The German newspaper Berliner Zeitung, in an article titled “In Search of Stability,” examines the forthcoming elections in Kosovo and evaluates the prospects of current Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his primary rival, Ljumir Abdixiku from the Democratic League of Kosovo. It notes that while Kurti and his Self-Determination 2021 party secured a significant victory with an absolute majority previously, he now faces stronger competition.

“His conservative challenger, Ljumir Abdixiku from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), appears to have a promising chance of becoming the next prime minister. He offers Kosovo a fresh start, focusing on economic advancement, political transparency, and combating widespread corruption—key issues for the nation of one and a half million. Abdixiku envisions an economic growth of five percent and aims to boost Kosovo’s budget to five billion euros while also advocating for closer ties with the European Union, which Kosovo shares as a partner with Serbia in the Western Balkans.”

German Christian Democrats Favor Abdixiku

The article points out that Germany is paying increasing attention to the pre-election developments in Kosovo and cites remarks from Christian Democratic MP Peter Bayer, who openly expresses support for the conservative candidate Abdixiku: “He is a visionary yet pragmatic leader. He recognizes the pressing need for structural reforms.”

German political scientist Ulrich Schlie, a professor of security and strategy research at the University of Bonn, remarked to the Berlin newspaper: “In light of the political landscape in Europe, Kosovo’s future trajectory is vital for the stability of the Western Balkans. To achieve Kosovo’s European aspirations in the near future, politicians like Abdixiku who champion European values are essential.”

The article concludes by recalling that Germany was one of the first nations to recognize Kosovo’s independence in 2008, highlighting that around half a million people in Germany have connections to Kosovo through citizenship or heritage, making it the largest diaspora of Kosovars in the world.

Tensions with Serbia and Treatment of the Serbian Minority

The German Catholic News Agency, KNA, also reports on the pre-election climate in Pristina: “The emigration of talented individuals, a weakened economy, and poverty are pressing challenges the next government in Kosovo must address. However, one significant issue dominates the pre-election campaign for the parliamentary elections.”

This issue is primarily due to rising tensions with Serbia, coupled with Pristina’s approach towards the Serbian minority, the enforced closure of Serbian institutions, Belgrade’s nationalist influence, and Brussels’ growing discontent with the choices made by official Pristina.

“The enforced closure of Serbian institutions impacts the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, facilitated by Brussels. The European External Action Service stated that the recent actions taken ‘amid the election campaign’ breach Pristina’s commitments to the European Union during the normalization process. The European Union plans to lift sanctions against Kosovo contingent on closer ties with Serbia,” the report notes.

Uncertainty Surrounding Kurti’s Majority

The most intriguing aspect of the article pertains to the internal dynamics within Kosovo: “Domestically, the parliamentary elections could herald a shift in eras. Prime Minister Kurti faces the real possibility of not being re-elected. His Self-Determination 2021 party previously swept the polls with over 50 percent of the vote, allowing them to form a government independently. It remains uncertain whether this former civic movement can replicate that success. They may have to consider a coalition with one of the two established Kosovo parties, the Democratic Alliance of Kosovo or the Democratic Party of Kosovo. Alternatively, Kurti could end up in opposition.”

The German agency concludes: “Regardless of who takes the helm in Pristina, the challenges for the new government will be monumental. Kosovo boasts the youngest population in Europe, with over half of its citizens under 30 and a third under 18. Experts warn of insufficient job prospects and an outdated education system. Nearly one in five Kosovars subsists on less than five dollars a day, leaving the economy heavily reliant on remittances from the diaspora, which comprises about one million people. Consequently, it is unsurprising that Prime Minister Kurti made a stop in Zurich after the World Trade Forum in Davos to secure the votes of thousands of (local) Kosovo Albanians.

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