The German diplomat in Prishtina, Reiner Rudolph, has called for the immediate establishment of new state bodies in Kosovo, assessing that this action is vital for preserving political stability, the normal functioning of the state, and advancing key institutional processes.
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During an interview, Rudolph stated that the country must send a clear and convincing message about who will take the helm for the next four years. According to him, political clarity and the existence of legitimate institutions are indispensable for strengthening the trust of citizens, international partners, and investors in the country’s stability.
“I think what is needed now is a signal from Kosovo about who will form the Kosovo institutions for the next four years. I know that discussions and the process are ongoing, but I really think it would be good to have the institutions very soon and not enter another round of uncertainty,” the German ambassador declared.
Rudolph noted that, although negotiations for the creation of institutions are still ongoing, they must be concluded as soon as possible. He warned that delays could bring unnecessary political uncertainty and hamper decision-making on issues of high state interest.
The German diplomat added that the swift establishment of state bodies would allow Kosovo to focus on key priorities, such as reforms, economic development, and international cooperation. He reiterated that institutional stability is a prerequisite for the country’s progress and for successfully confronting future challenges.
Publicist Skënder Zogaj, in a statement to “Bota sot”, has warned that the delay in forming Kosovo’s institutions is seriously damaging the state, endangering relations with strategic allies, and hindering the country’s integration, therefore the political class must act without wasting time.
He stressed that Ambassador Rudolph’s statement should be seen as a serious warning and not merely as diplomatic advice. According to him, it is a clear signal that the dragging out of institution formation is causing severe damage to the state of Kosovo.
“It is absurd for a state facing major challenges to remain without functional institutions. Kosovo has never had this luxury, not even for a day, let alone for entire months. Today Kosovo faces risks on many fronts, but most worrying is the cooling of relations with strategic allies, whose engagement was decisive for its liberation and freedom. The building and consolidation of the state is the responsibility of the Kosovars themselves, and every delay in democratic processes and European integration weakens the country’s international position. Without functional institutions, Kosovo cannot be a full part of the strategic architecture of regional and European security,” Zogaj stated.
Zogaj added that the continued appeal of international partners, especially Germany, for the rapid creation of institutions must not be ignored, because every delay damages Kosovo’s international standing and makes the path toward Euro-Atlantic integration more difficult.
“Precisely for this reason, diplomats of friendly countries are constantly repeating the same appeal: Kosovo must build its institutions without delay. Every lost day produces political, diplomatic, and strategic consequences. Germany has long been warning Kosovo to emerge from this institutional gridlock. It would be unforgivable for these messages to be ignored. Time does not work in Kosovo’s favor, and every delay makes it harder to restore trust and accelerate the path toward Euro-Atlantic integration,” publicist Zogaj told “Bota sot”.
Meanwhile, political affairs expert Eduard Gashi, in a conversation with “Bota sot”, emphasized that the German ambassador’s warning should be taken as a serious diplomatic signal, because the institutional blockade is weakening Kosovo’s international position, while the political class is prioritizing party interests over state interest.
Gashi assessed that Rudolph’s statement is not simply a call for the formation of institutions, but a diplomatic signal, underlining that in diplomacy, especially when it comes from a state like Germany, words are weighed carefully and are not spoken casually.
He warned that the ongoing institutional gridlock is seriously damaging Kosovo’s relations with international partners. Kosovo has embassies and consulates in many countries around the world, where important diplomatic work is done and contacts are made with friendly states. However, this work must be continued and finalized by functional and legitimate institutions in Prishtina. If they do not function, even the best diplomacy loses its strength.
Gashi added that many political actors are more focused on preserving or expanding their own power than on the state interest, forgetting that politics does not exist to serve parties, but to move the state forward and improve citizens’ lives.
Furthermore, he argued that the prolonged institutional blockade is weakening Kosovo’s credibility and international clout, at a time when Western partners demand functional states, risking political, economic, and European integration process consequences.
“Kosovo today finds itself in a completely different geopolitical reality from that of the early years after the declaration of independence. Europe is undergoing major security changes, while Western partners demand states that are reliable, predictable, and functional. Nobody expects perfection, but everyone expects institutions that make decisions and implement policies.
Naturally, this long period of institutional blockade will have consequences. No state can indefinitely endure the absence of normal institutional functioning. This is not a party issue, but a matter of the state’s political maturity. In international politics, justifications and blaming do not matter. What counts are results. Explanations may fill the time, but only results build trust.
Precisely for this reason, Kosovo risks losing political weight and international credibility. In diplomacy, trust is capital. A state that for a long time is unable to make strategic decisions begins to be seen not as part of the solution, but as part of the problem.
Even more painful is the comparison with the past. There was a time when Kosovo’s leaders were received at the White House, held meetings at the highest levels in European capitals, and Kosovo was one of the priorities of Western policy. Today we mainly see symbolic photographs with handshakes, while Kosovo’s real political weight on the international stage has visibly shrunk.
This will cost Kosovo politically, economically, and in the European integration process. Populist rhetoric will not change this reality,” Gashi explained.
In conclusion, Gashi underscored that all political forces bear responsibility for forming functional institutions through dialogue and compromise, because only a stable, serious, and credible Kosovo can preserve the support of allies and strengthen its international position.
“Even the call to respect the citizens’ will is not enough. Democracy does not only mean winning elections. Democracy also means the ability to build functional institutions, to reach compromises, and to take responsibility for the state. Democratic mechanisms are designed to guarantee institutional stability, not to produce endless blockades.
Responsibility lies with all political forces. The election winner has a stronger democratic mandate, but precisely for this reason also bears the greatest responsibility. A true leader is not measured by ideological stubbornness, but by the ability to create majorities, build bridges of cooperation, and find solutions. At the same time, the opposition also has a responsibility toward the state and must not turn political disagreement into institutional paralysis.
Kosovo must not fall into the illusion that the support of allies is guaranteed forever. In international relations, friendships are built on shared values, but also on shared interests. Support is not a blank check; it is continuously earned through seriousness, stability, and credibility.
Therefore, Kosovo must finally roll up its sleeves, create stable institutions, keep them functional, and move forward with concrete work and results. In a rapidly changing world, a state that stands still does not stay where it is—it falls behind. Only by being a functional, serious, and credible state can Kosovo restore its international weight and the respect of its strategic partners,” concluded political affairs expert Eduard Gashi, for “Bota sot”.
