The election of Justina Shiroka-Pula as president of Kosovo marked a pivotal moment on the political scene, ending a prolonged period of uncertainty over the country’s leadership. After months of political crises and difficulties in the functioning of institutions, the event shifted the focus back to institutional stability and the obstacles facing the country.
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However, resolving the presidential deadlock does not automatically mean that Kosovo has put all its political problems behind it.
The key question now is how the institutions will function and whether political forces will be able to coordinate their actions on matters of national interest.
Has Kosovo returned to institutional normality following the election of the new president? What impact could Justina Shiroka-Pula have on maintaining political stability?
Analysts Zejnulla Jakupi and Eduard Gashi shared their views on these questions with “Bota sot.” While Jakupi sees the president’s election as a positive signal, he stresses that institutional normality requires more than filling the country’s top offices. Gashi emphasizes that Kosovo cannot remain captive to party interests and that this moment should serve as a starting point for a new political spirit.
Jakupi: The president’s election is a positive development, but normality requires measurable achievements
Analyst Zejnullah Jakupi considers the election of the new president a positive achievement for Kosovo, as it ends the institutional deadlock and paves the way for political stability. However, he believes it is still too early to speak of a full return to normality.
“The election of the new president is a step forward because it ends an institutional deadlock and creates the conditions for political stability. But I think it is still too soon to say that we have fully returned to normality. Institutional normality means not only filling public offices, but also the proper functioning of institutions, political cooperation and decisions that benefit citizens.”
Discussing expectations for the new president with “Bota sot,” Jakupi stressed that academic experience is valuable, but fulfilling this mandate requires practical skills, decision-making ability and institutional responsibility.
He said Justina Shiroka-Pula must demonstrate that she can perform the presidential role effectively, bringing an approach suited to the responsibilities of the institution.
“The president comes from academia, and her election has been welcomed. However, the expectation is that she will bring a new approach to the way she performs her duties. Academia and state institutions operate at different paces. This position requires not only knowledge and theoretical preparation, but also decision-making, responsibility, political communication and concrete action.
If her work remains largely theoretical and is not accompanied by initiatives and tangible results, there is a risk that her influence will be limited. The president must prove herself through her actions, while respecting the Constitution and her powers,” Jakupi said.
He believes the new president could play an important role in easing political tensions, particularly by encouraging dialogue and maintaining institutional stability. But he says the burden of resolving the crisis cannot fall solely on the head of state; it requires commitment from all political parties.
“The president can play an important role in encouraging dialogue and maintaining institutional stability, but she cannot resolve the political crisis alone. That requires responsibility from all parties, both those in government and those in opposition.
Her election can be a starting point for cooperation, but agreements must extend to other essential issues as well. If polarization and parliamentary deadlocks continue, then the president’s election will remain merely a formal solution, without sufficient impact on the country’s stability,” Jakupi said.
Regarding the challenges facing Kosovo in the coming months, Jakupi cited the functioning of the Assembly and the government, implementing reforms, strengthening the rule of law and advancing the process of European integration. He stressed that economic development, dialogue with Serbia and maintaining relations with international partners are equally important.
However, he said the institutions’ results must also be measured by their direct impact on citizens’ daily lives.
“The main challenges are the functioning of the Assembly and the government, implementing reforms, strengthening the rule of law, progress in European integration and economic development. Dialogue with Serbia and maintaining relations with international partners are also important.
But citizens expect concrete results: more jobs, better-quality public services and better prospects for young people. Political energy must therefore focus on solving citizens’ problems rather than on constant conflicts between parties,” he stressed.
Jakupi emphasized that the new president’s success should not be judged solely on statements about cooperation, but through concrete actions and her ability to contribute to a more stable political environment.
“Success must be measured by concrete actions, by the ability to fulfill constitutional responsibilities, encourage communication between institutions and contribute to a more stable political climate.
Statements about cooperation are not enough; we need to see results in practice. The president must be a stabilizing force and act in the interests of the state, maintaining institutional impartiality and respecting the separation of powers,” Jakupi said.
In conclusion, the analyst urged political parties to view the president’s election not as the end of the crisis, but as an opportunity to change their approach to the responsibilities of state.
“My message is that the president’s election should not be considered the end of the crisis, but the beginning of a new phase of political responsibility. Parties must understand that the interests of the state and citizens’ needs must come before party interests.
Kosovo needs functioning institutions, decisions that are implemented and policies that deliver results. Political debates are part of democracy, but they must not paralyze the state.
Ultimately, the election of the new president creates an opportunity for institutional stability, but success will depend on how she performs her duties and on the willingness of the entire political class to cooperate. Citizens expect not just formal changes, but tangible results. Kosovo needs fewer deadlocks, more decision-making and institutions that are accountable for their work,” Jakupi concluded.
Gashi: Kosovo cannot remain hostage to party egos
Meanwhile, Eduard Gashi sees the election of Justina Shiroka-Pula as president of Kosovo as a significant development in overcoming the institutional crisis. However, he told “Bota sot” that ending the deadlock should not obscure the reasons that brought the country to that point.
According to Gashi, the political class must be held accountable for how it has handled its constitutional responsibilities, particularly when it comes to the functioning of institutions and reaching political agreements.
“The election of Ms. Justina Shiroka-Pula as president of the Republic of Kosovo is an important development in overcoming the prolonged institutional crisis. It creates a new opportunity for political stability, continuity of the state and restoring citizens’ trust in the country’s institutions.
However, the president’s election must not make us forget the reasons that brought Kosovo to this point.
The most significant fact is that Ms. Shiroka-Pula’s name had been mentioned as early as March 4, 2026, in discussions about a consensus candidate. Although there was no official candidacy at the time and she herself had said she had not been contacted, there was already a genuine opportunity to consider this alternative.
That raises a legitimate question: why did it take so many months to reach an agreement that could have been considered much earlier?
This question is not directed at the new president, but at the political class, which must be held accountable for how it has managed its constitutional responsibilities,” Gashi said.
He stressed that state institutions must not become instruments of political rivalries and personal ambitions, noting that the interests of the Republic must come before any party calculations.
“The state is not the property of political parties. Institutions are not hostage to personal ambitions, and the Constitution is not a tool for endless political bargaining.
In a healthy democracy, compromise is not weakness, but maturity in matters of state. The problem arises when personal egos, party rivalries and the desire to deny an opponent a political success are placed above the interests of the Republic.
A political approach that is constantly concerned with obstructing institutions rather than making them function must face a fundamental question: what concrete results has it delivered for citizens?
Those who know only how to block have not proved they know how to build. Those who know only how to obstruct have not shown they know how to lead,” Gashi said.
However, Gashi stressed that criticism and opposition are essential parts of democracy, but must not become an obstacle to the functioning of the state. He said responsibility for reaching a compromise rests not only with the opposition, but also with the governing majority.
“Of course, the opposition is essential to democracy. Criticism, parliamentary oversight and opposition to misguided decisions are part of the democratic system. But a distinction must be made between constructive opposition and a political approach that turns obstruction into an end in itself.
At the same time, the governing majority also has a responsibility to seek consensus on issues that require broad constitutional support. No one can demand responsibility from others while evading their own,” he said.
Discussing the new president, Gashi said her academic, governmental and institutional experience forms an important part of her profile. He stressed that the presidency must maintain its independence and constitutional authority while contributing to the unity of the state.
“In this context, President Justina Shiroka-Pula takes office with extensive academic, governmental and institutional experience. Her involvement in public life and her leadership of the Kosovo Academy of Sciences and Arts are important elements of her profile.
The president must have the opportunity to fulfill her mandate with dignity, independence and constitutional authority. The presidency must not become an extension of party clashes, but should be a force for state unity and respect for the constitutional order.
Respect for the president is, above all, respect for the institution she represents,” Gashi said.
Regarding future political developments, Gashi identified three main challenges: consolidating institutions and restoring political responsibility, strengthening Kosovo’s sovereignty and international standing, and economic development and restoring citizens’ trust.
He stressed that each institution must fulfill its own responsibilities, while decision-making should focus on results rather than political clashes.
“In the coming months, three challenges will be particularly important.
First, consolidating institutions and restoring political responsibility. The Assembly must function as a legislative and oversight body, the government must focus on concrete results, and the president must fulfill her responsibilities in accordance with the Constitution.
Second, strengthening Kosovo’s sovereignty and international standing. The independence of the Republic of Kosovo, declared on February 17, 2008, is the foundation of its state order. Dialogue with Serbia must be conducted on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and respect for equality between the parties.
Serbia must understand that long-term stability in the Balkans cannot be built by keeping territorial claims alive or constantly disputing Kosovo’s statehood. At the same time, Kosovo must continue to strengthen its diplomacy and its strategic partnership with the United States of America and the European Union.
Third, economic development and restoring citizens’ trust. Kosovo needs investment, jobs, trustworthy institutions, legal certainty and prospects for younger generations. These are responsibilities that cannot be postponed indefinitely because of party calculations,” Gashi said.
He stressed that, alongside these challenges, institutions must also demonstrate responsibility on sensitive issues related to the Specialist Chambers, maintaining transparency and diplomatic prudence.
“Sensitive issues related to the Specialist Chambers also require constitutional responsibility, transparency and diplomatic prudence. Respect for the sacrifices made for Kosovo’s freedom and the protection of the rule of law must be treated with the seriousness they deserve.
Kosovo has endured a painful history to gain its freedom and independence. For precisely that reason, its institutions cannot be treated as instruments of day-to-day party rivalries.
In a democratic state, politicians come and go, governments change and parliamentary majorities shift. But the Republic remains. The institutions remain. Responsibility toward citizens remains,” he said.
Finally, Gashi said the president’s election should serve as an opportunity for a new political approach, in which responsibility to the state is placed above individual and party interests.
“The election of President Justina Shiroka-Pula must therefore mark more than the end of a deadlock. It must be an opportunity for a different political culture, in which responsibility to the state is placed above individual ego and party interests.
Institutional normality is not achieved simply by electing a president at the last moment before constitutional deadlines expire. It is demonstrated when institutions function every day, when compromises are reached in time and when those holding political responsibility understand that their mandate is a service to the Republic, not a personal privilege.
Politics is not the art of blocking the state. Politics is the responsibility to lead, develop and strengthen it.
This must apply to every party, every member of parliament and every representative of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo.
And finally, I want to emphasize a fundamental principle:
No one is greater than the Republic of Kosovo. No party, no leader and no personal ego can stand above the state and its institutions.
Kosovo gained its independence through great sacrifice. Now the political class has a responsibility to demonstrate every day that it knows how to lead and develop this state with dignity, responsibility and a long-term vision,” Gashi concluded in his remarks to “Bota sot.”
