Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti hopes that a change of government in Serbia will also bring a change in Belgrade’s stance toward Kosovo as an independent state. He said such an approach would pave the way for the full normalization of relations between the neighbors.
At a Saturday meeting of his party, the Vetëvendosje Movement, Kurti spoke about political developments in Serbia. The Student List won last week’s elections, while former President Aleksandar Vuçiq’s party lost power. Kurti said it is now clear who lost the elections, but it remains unclear who will take power.
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The prime minister said he expects political change in Serbia to affect both relations with Kosovo and the treatment of Albanians in the Preševo Valley. He expressed hope that Belgrade would adopt a more positive stance toward the Republic of Kosovo as an independent state and toward Albanians in Preševo, Bujanovac and Medveđa, whom he described as a discriminated-against community.
Meanwhile, the European Union has reminded Belgrade that a change of government does not relieve Serbian institutions of their obligations under the Brussels Agreement and the Ohrid Annex. So far, however, there have been no signals of a significant shift in the stance toward Kosovo from the new government expected to be formed in Belgrade.
Ilija Srdanoviq, the first representative of the Student List that won the elections in Serbia, has promised to continue the dialogue and implement the Brussels Agreement, but stressed that both must be in accordance with Serbia’s Constitution. The Student List’s platform also places the Kosovo issue within the framework of the Serbian Constitution and UN Security Council Resolution 1244, focusing mainly on improving the position of the Serb community in Kosovo.
Professor Kolë Krasniqi, speaking to “Bota sot,” interprets Kurti’s statement as cautious optimism. He said the loss of a parliamentary majority by Vuçiq’s coalition shows that citizens wanted change, but it remains unclear who will lead the country, on what platform and with what degree of political accountability.
Krasniqi said the Student List brings together opponents of the outgoing government, but that does not mean its members share a common, realistic position on relations with Kosovo. For this reason, he also sees a note of caution in Kurti’s statement about the political identity and direction of Serbia’s future government.
The professor noted that Vuçiq’s defeat in the parliamentary elections does not mean the end of his political influence. According to Krasniqi, a genuine change in Serbian policy will depend on how the new government is formed, its ability to exercise its powers independently, and its willingness to carry out the reforms demanded by citizens and meet European standards.
He does not rule out changes in Serbia’s rhetoric and communication with Kosovo, its willingness to cooperate, or its approach to Kosovo Serbs. Nevertheless, he said the positions made public so far provide insufficient grounds to expect a swift change regarding Kosovo’s statehood.
Krasniqi stressed that the Student List’s platform continues to refer to Serbia’s Constitution and Resolution 1244, opposes Kosovo’s independence and its membership in international organizations, and calls for a review of previous agreements. To him, these are signs of continuity in Serbian policy toward Kosovo that could lead to new tensions between the two states, particularly in the dialogue.
The professor warned that the Serbian opposition’s resistance to Vuçiq is not, in itself, evidence of a willingness to reconcile with Kosovo. He said the united opposition has challenged authoritarianism and corruption in Serbia’s administration and state apparatus, but its positions on Kosovo do not indicate a break with nationalism and longstanding hegemonic ambitions. As a result, he said, there is a risk that the new government will pursue a policy toward its neighbors as aggressive as that of Vuçiq’s government.
According to Krasniqi, a credible break with previous policy would require concrete steps: toning down hostile rhetoric toward Kosovo; cooperating with Kosovar and international authorities to determine the fate of missing persons; cooperating in the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the terrorist attack in Banjska; and creating conditions for Kosovo Serbs to participate in institutional life without pressure or threats.
Krasniqi said the EU and the United States will play a key role in shaping Serbia’s new policy through diplomatic, economic and security influence. He said the West should tie its support for Serbia to concrete results and compliance with its obligations toward Kosovo, while demanding implementation of the 2023 Agreement on the normalization of Kosovo–Serbia relations.
He explained that the EU has tools related to integration, funding and conditionality, while the United States carries significant diplomatic and security weight. Their influence, Krasniqi said, would be greater if they acted with shared goals and clear demands for both sides, although the political choice remains the responsibility of Serbia’s new leadership.
Krasniqi recalled that the 2023 Agreement on the path to normalization, backed by Western partners, stipulates, among other things, that Serbia will not oppose Kosovo’s membership in international organizations. A platform that pledges to oppose such memberships, he said, conflicts with both the agreement and Western goals for normalization. He hopes Western partners will support Serbia’s democratization while also demanding measurable results in relations with Kosovo, combining what is known as the “carrot and stick” approach.
Political analyst Faton Mehmeti, also speaking to “Bota sot,” called Vuçiq’s fall good news for the region. He said Vuçiq directly and indirectly represented Millosheviq’s policies, continuing them in a more disguised form but with aims that have now become clear.
Mehmeti remains skeptical that relations between Kosovo and Serbia will change substantially. He stressed that it is not yet known who will succeed Vuçiq or who will head Serbia’s government. For that reason, he said, it remains to be seen what kind of relationship the new leadership will establish with the Brussels dialogue. He does not expect many changes, but believes there may be developments that, even if not major, will be important.
According to Mehmeti, Vuçiq’s fall could diminish the political power that the Serbian List has held in Kosovo until now. If that were accompanied by the party breaking away from Belgrade, he said, it could help stabilize the political representation of Kosovo Serbs, particularly in the north, which would be a positive signal.
The analyst said it remains to be seen whether Vuçiq’s departure will open a new chapter for the region. In his view, a change of government in Tirana as well would make this development more significant. Mehmeti said the removal from power of Vuçiq and Edi Rama would send a new signal to Albanians, the region as a whole and the approach to the Kosovo–Serbia dialogue. In his assessment, Edi Rama’s approach has hindered Kosovo rather than helped it.
