The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has started a kind of pre-campaign on her social networks, where she is promoting her five-year term. This comes at a time when public opinion is talking about the possibility that her name could be proposed for a second term as head of state.
According to political analysts, through this approach, Osmani is exerting public and media pressure on the incumbent Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, for a possible re-election, aiming to prove to public opinion that her choice is the right one for the country.
Political analyst, Artan Muhaxhiri, told KosovaPress that the current president's position is difficult due to changes in the political context compared to 2021, when she was first elected.
According to him, everything will depend on the leader of the Vetëvendosje Movement, the entity that convincingly won the December 28 elections.
This is due to the fact that Osmani and Kurti were not always on the same page regarding domestic and international developments.
"President Osmani is in a very difficult position because the entire political context has changed compared to 2021, when she was first elected, and now it depends on many other factors that are not in her hands. Everything will depend on Kurti because 51 percent gives her this opportunity and until the last moment, not even President Osmani herself will be clear whether she will be re-nominated by Kurti or not."
"President Osmani at the local level has been completely on the same track as Kurti during his mandate, but in the international arena she has had some successes, there has been a difference with Kurti because she has been more acceptable and more cooperative with the international factor, with the US and the powerful EU countries. Some of the work is her merit, but I still believe that it is clear how much her real political influence has been," said Muhaxhiri.
According to him, this presidential campaign, in addition to public and media pressure on Kurti, also aims to create an excuse in case she does not run for re-election, so that she can be remembered as a successful leader.
"She wants to put public media pressure on Kurti, but even if she eventually does not run for re-election, then there should be some kind of justification for it not being the reason for her lack of work, her lack of success, but it was in other circumstances that were dictated by Kurti, and in any case it is her desire that her mandate be remembered with successes, according to her perspective, but in any case the most realistic decision is made by the citizens and this does not depend mainly on the president's media campaign," he added.
Meanwhile, another political analyst, Dorajet Imeri, assessed that Osman's communication with the public is expected, but is not decisive for the presidential election process.
Furthermore, Imeri says that some of the works that Osmani is presenting on social networks are not hers.
He also asked why President Osmani does not speak with the LDK instead of the pre-campaign, to offer her offer and positions to be the first of the country, even for the term.
"It is expected, in her attempt to create in general opinion that her choice is right, necessary. There is no provision by law for a campaign period for presidential candidates. However, this does not prevent her from communicating with the public, this cannot change the behavior of the parties because they do not necessarily depend on the public opinion created at a certain moment, at least not in the case of the president, I can then dedicate it to them with a vote...
"Some of the work that Osmani is presenting is not hers, but it does not mean that she has done well in terms of the commitment she has had professionally... The question that arises here is why Osmani does not talk to the LDK and I believe that it would be better for her to invite the leader of the LDK to offer her positions and her offer to be the first in the country in terms of communication with the parties that should vote for Osmani," said Imeri.
President Osmani has been publishing video summaries of official meetings during her five-year term for several days. She has published her speech at the UN Security Council in front of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
Then a video between the US military at the academy at West Point, as well as the European Parliament, as well as the visit of US President Donald Trump to NATO headquarters and many other visits. All of this, with the caption "When Kosovo speaks with dignity, the world listens. The voice of Kosovo is getting stronger every day. Share it too, so that everyone can hear it."
Osmani was elected to a five-year term on April 4, 2021. According to the Constitution, the election of the new president must take place no later than 30 days before the end of the current president's term.
If a new president is not elected by March 5, the country will go to extraordinary elections within 45 days. /KP/
