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Kosovo is about to hold its third parliamentary election in 18 months on Sunday, after the fractured Parliament failed to elect a president on time.
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Former President Vjosa Osmani, who is now running for parliament for her former party, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), told Euronews she hopes all parties will find a compromise to overcome the political deadlock.
“I am very much hopeful that the people of Kosovo will help us achieve that result by creating a democratic balance among political parties here in Kosovo that will make all political parties sit down with one another and make sure that we achieve an agreement on creating the institutions as soon as possible,” she told Euronews.
The president needs to obtain at least two thirds of the votes in Parliament.
She says a quick compromise would enable the country to move on with some of the issues of national interest, including European integration and joining NATO.
“We need to look at compromise, dialogue, working with one another for the sake of national interest without creating divisions between our people. Because there’s just too much propaganda, too much division, too much polarisation that is harming our society.”
Disinformation campaign
Osmani says the election campaign has been the target of the “worst” and the “most massive” disinformation that has been “seen in the history of this country.” Prosecutors have been asked to investigate.
She said the disinformation campaign mostly targeted women political leaders, including with AI-manipulated videos and photographs.
The campaign was also marked by accusations made against the government of incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurti, after it approved social schemes and subsidies ahead of the election.
Opponents have accused Kurti’s government of breaking the law by attempting to influence the election.
Former President Osmani says she plans to change the legislation so that in the future, no government “can abuse its power in order to negatively influence the will of the voters.”
Three elections in 18 months
Kosovans will head back to the polls on Sunday for the snap general election.
Although Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s party won the election in February 2025, he lacked the majority to form a government and called a snap poll in December.
Kurti’s party won the election but the Parliament failed to reach the two-third majority to elect a new President on time, due to an opposition’s boycott.
Former President Osmani’s term expired in April. In the meantime, the interim is ensured by the President of Parliament.
“It is an unnecessary crisis, a completely unnecessary deadlock, because it is harming the country,” Osmani says.
Additional sources • AFP
