During the period from August 1 to 30, a total of 146,819 entries and exits by Albanian and foreign nationals were recorded at the Qafë Botë Border Crossing Point.

According to statistics from the Saranda Border Police Commissariat, the highest number of movements was recorded among those leaving, with 76,758 people crossing. Meanwhile, 70,061 nationals were recorded entering.

Of those who entered Albanian territory, 64,709 were foreign nationals and 5,352 were Albanian. In terms of departures, 71,243 foreign nationals and 5,515 Albanian nationals were recorded.

The figures show that during the summer season, movements at Qafë Botë were dominated by foreign tourists and visitors.

Significant traffic was also recorded at the Port of Saranda. During the period from August 1 to 30, 2025, a total of 150,715 entries and exits were recorded there.

Of this total, 72,643 nationals entered the country, while 78,072 people left. Among those entering, 63,503 were foreign nationals and 9,140 were Albanian. As for departures, the statistics show 68,987 foreign nationals and 9,085 Albanian nationals.

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The Kosovo Specialist Chambers has issued its Third Scheduling Order in the trial of Hashim Thaçi and others, who are accused of criminal offenses against the administration of justice. The order cancels the hearings scheduled for August.

The decision follows a notice filed by Smakaj’s defense on July 30, 2026, pursuant to Rule 131, stating that it would not present evidence at this stage of the proceedings.

The single judge hearing the case removed the hearings scheduled for August 17, 18 and 19, 2026, from the calendar. The deadlines previously set in the Second Scheduling Order were also canceled.

Meanwhile, the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (SPO) was given until 12:00 p.m. on August 4, 2026, to file a motion if it intends to present rebuttal evidence.

If the SPO does not file such a motion, the evidentiary proceedings will be closed and the case will move to the final stage.

The order also sets the following procedural deadlines:

August 24, 2026, by 4:00 p.m. – submission of final trial briefs, should the parties choose to file them;

September 4, 2026 – submission of responses, if any;

September 10, 11 and 14, 2026 – hearings for the presentation of closing arguments.

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The constitutive session of the Assembly, scheduled for August 6, has raised expectations of an agreement between the political parties on the formation of new institutions. Efforts to secure a parliamentary majority are expected to continue until the final days before the session is held.

Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said that concrete steps could be taken this week in the dialogue with the Democratic League of Kosovo. According to him, the parties must be ready to begin the procedures for constituting the 11th legislature.

“We will try to make use of these days so that we are as prepared as possible when the session for the constitution of the institutions of the 11th legislature begins. However, we still cannot predict the outcome; efforts will not be lacking. There is interest, willingness and readiness, but next week we will find out everything,” Kurti said several days ago.

Meanwhile, LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku has decided to end the suspension of talks and expressed his readiness for negotiations to continue. Their aim is to form new institutions following the June elections.

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Alliance have also made their positions on the formation of institutions public, reaffirming the positions they expressed after the elections.

During the August 6 session, the deputies will first take their oaths. The Assembly must then elect its speaker and five deputy speakers.

Constitutional procedures for appointing a mandate-holder and forming the new government can begin only after the Assembly has been constituted.

For this reason, the period leading up to the session is seen as crucial for the parties’ negotiations, as they seek to secure the necessary parliamentary votes and prevent the institutional deadlock from being prolonged.

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With the start of August, the number of diaspora members returning from the various countries where they live and work to spend their holidays in their homeland has once again increased significantly this year. Although the journey is tiring, they say arriving home lifts their spirits.

Denis Elshani, a diaspora member living in Denmark, says the journey went very well overall. According to him, there were some delays, but they were understandable given the season.

Bekim Basha, who arrived from Germany, says they encountered the greatest difficulties in Croatia, where they waited for two and a half hours along with 20 cars. Meanwhile, he describes the journey through Albania as fantastic.

Lumnie Bajramaj, a diaspora member from Switzerland, also made a 24-hour journey. She says they waited for two hours in Croatia, while they crossed the border checkpoints with Albania without delays.

This year, the state is once again subsidizing vehicle insurance policies for diaspora members. At the Vërmica checkpoint, this document is being issued very quickly.

Bekim Nexhipi, a diaspora member from Switzerland, says the procedure took only two minutes and that everything went smoothly. He adds that there was a short line, but according to him, such queues are always present.

Representatives of the Kosovo Insurance Bureau office say the influx of emigrants returning home reaches its peak in early August.

Agron Berisha of the KIB says July ended with at least 35,000 diaspora vehicles entering Kosovo and obtaining insurance at this checkpoint. He emphasizes that the government is continuing to subsidize the diaspora this year for the passenger vehicle category.

The largest number of diaspora members come from Germany and Switzerland, followed by Italy and the Nordic countries. To handle the influx, the Kosovo Insurance Bureau is operating 24/7.

According to Berisha, emigrants do not have to wait minutes to be served, but only a few seconds at the KIB counters. He says the staff are professionally trained and fully prepared, while both the main center and the Vërmica checkpoint are operating at maximum capacity without interruption, 24/7.

Data from the KIB office show that more than 13,000 vehicles have so far arrived from Switzerland, 10,000 to 12,000 from Germany, and the remainder from other European countries.

The influx of diaspora members arriving from Europe is expected to decline in the coming days.

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Political analysts view the August 6 constitutive session as a key step toward breaking the institutional deadlock, although some have criticized it for being scheduled far too late.

According to their assessments, delays in the process have heightened tensions on the political scene and created opportunities for attempts to shift responsibility onto the opposition parties.

They emphasize that the outcome of the session will be determined by the willingness of political parties to compromise and prioritize the interests of the state over party calculations.

If no agreement is reached, there is a risk that the institutional crisis will worsen, while the likelihood of new elections will increase further.

Making the institutions operational is considered essential to maintaining political stability and addressing the domestic and international challenges facing Kosovo.

Political analyst Jeton Kelmendi opposes the decision to hold the constitutive session on August 6, describing the choice of this date as a premeditated move.

Kelmendi stated that convening the session on August 6, just one day before the deadline expires, constitutes what he sees as a deliberate mistake.

In a statement to “Bota Sot,” he said that LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku has also sided with those seeking to designate a “permanent scapegoat,” while attempts are being made to place that responsibility on the LDK.

Referring to the internal situation within the LDK, Kelmendi warned that any decision concerning Abdixhiku would have political consequences.

According to him, removing Lumir Abdixhiku would give the issue greater political significance. If he is not removed, Kelmendi believes this would directly weaken calls for reform within the LDK.

He argued that the session should have been convened much earlier so that Parliament could first be constituted and political negotiations could proceed only afterward.

Kelmendi added that talks should have begun even while the results had yet to be certified.

In conclusion, he described the entire delay as part of a political strategy that, in his view, is intended to lay the groundwork for new elections.

Unlike Kelmendi, international relations and diplomacy expert Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nijazi Halili views the scheduling of the Kosovo Assembly’s constitutive session for August 6 as a moment of particular political and institutional significance.

In his statement to “Bota Sot,” Halili said that setting this date establishes an important deadline for the process. According to him, the time allowed for consultations among political parties demonstrates an effort to prevent the formation of institutions from ending in another political deadlock.

He assessed that the possibility of reaching an agreement by August 6 is directly linked to the parties’ willingness to compromise.

According to Halili, the chances of reaching an agreement depend both on the political willingness to make concessions and on the ability of institutional leaders to place the interests of the state ahead of their parties’ short-term calculations.

Halili emphasized that the election of the President has traditionally been among the most sensitive issues in Kosovo politics.

He explained that the sensitivity surrounding the issue of the President stems from the fact that, in addition to its constitutional function, the institution also carries the symbolic responsibility of representing the unity of the citizens and the state.

According to him, the institutional deadlock can be overcome if the political parties agree on a candidate who can secure broader political and social support.

Halili warned that the process can move forward only if such an agreement is reached. If the dialogue continues to be driven exclusively by party interests, he said, the risk of a prolonged institutional crisis remains real.

Listing the country’s challenges, the expert emphasized that establishing functional institutions is vitally important for Kosovo’s future.

He said political stability is particularly necessary at a time when Kosovo faces significant challenges in European integration, economic development, security, and international relations. According to him, functioning institutions are a prerequisite for strengthening Kosovo’s position in the international arena.

In conclusion, Halili called for August 6 not to be treated merely as a procedural deadline, but as a test of the political maturity and responsibility of the parliamentary parties.

He assessed that an agreement would send a positive signal for democracy and institutional stability, while a lack of compromise would further reinforce the perception that the country is in a political crisis.

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The constitutive session of the Assembly of Kosovo, scheduled for August 6, is seen by political analysts as a decisive step toward breaking the institutional deadlock, although the delay in convening it has drawn criticism.

According to their assessments, the prolonged process has created fertile ground for political tensions and attempts to shift responsibility onto the opposition parties.

They emphasize that the outcome of the session will be determined by the willingness of the political parties to compromise and prioritize the interests of the state over party interests.

If the Assembly fails to constitute itself, the institutional crisis could escalate, while the likelihood of new elections would increase.

Making the institutions functional is considered essential both for preserving political stability and for addressing Kosovo’s domestic and international challenges.

Nijazi Halili: August 6 represents a test of political maturity, not merely a procedural deadline

International relations and diplomacy expert Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nijazi Halili describes August 6, the date on which the constitutive session of the Assembly of Kosovo is expected to be held, as a moment of particular political and institutional significance.

In a statement to “Bota Sot,” Halili said that setting August 6 as the date of the session represents an important deadline. According to him, the time made available for consultations among the political parties demonstrates an effort to prevent the formation of institutions from ending in another political deadlock.

He assessed that reaching an agreement among the parties by August 6 will depend on their willingness to compromise.

According to Halili, the prospects for political consensus are directly linked to the willingness to compromise and the ability of institutional leaders to place the interests of the state ahead of short-term party calculations.

Referring to the election of the President, he emphasized that this issue has traditionally been among the most sensitive on Kosovo’s political scene.

Halili explained that, in addition to its constitutional function, the institution of the President also carries a symbolic role in representing the unity of the citizens and the state, which is why this issue has consistently been a delicate one.

According to him, an agreement on a candidate who could secure broader support could pave the way for overcoming the institutional deadlock.

He said the process could move forward if the parties agree on a candidate with broader political and public support. However, if the dialogue continues to be driven solely by party interests, the risk of the institutional crisis dragging on remains real.

Halili also underlined that making the institutions operational is vital to Kosovo’s future, given the challenges facing the country.

He said Kosovo needs political stability, especially at a time when it faces significant challenges in European integration, economic development, security, and international relations. According to him, functional institutions are a prerequisite for strengthening Kosovo’s position in the international arena.

In conclusion, Halili called for August 6 to be treated as a test of the parliamentary parties’ political responsibility.

According to him, the date is not merely a procedural deadline but also a test of the political maturity of the parties in the Assembly. An agreement would send a positive signal for democracy and institutional stability, while the absence of compromise would reinforce the perception of a political crisis.

Jeton Kelmendi: Convening the session near the constitutional deadline was deliberate

Unlike Halili, political analyst Jeton Kelmendi considers the decision to schedule the constitutive session for August 6 to be a mistake and claims the move was deliberate.

Kelmendi said that convening the session for August 6, only one day before the deadline expires, amounted, in his view, to a premeditated mistake.

In a statement to “Bota Sot,” he said that LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku has also aligned himself with those seeking to find a “designated scapegoat” for the situation that has arisen, while attempts are being made to place this responsibility on the LDK.

Commenting on the situation within the LDK, Kelmendi warned that any decision concerning Abdixhiku would have political consequences.

According to him, dismissing Lumir Abdixhiku would give the issue broader political dimensions. If he is not dismissed, this would directly weaken the calls for reform within the LDK.

Kelmendi assessed that the constitutive session should have been convened much earlier, while political talks should have taken place only after the Assembly had been constituted.

He said Parliament should have been constituted earlier and negotiations should have continued afterward, adding that talks should have begun even while the results had yet to be certified.

Finally, Kelmendi portrayed the delays as part of a political strategy, concluding that all these actions were taken to prepare the ground for new elections.

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During a television appearance on the show “Now”, meteorologist Lajda Porja stated that the period of cool days has come to an end. She warned that Albania will once again face an intense wave of African heat.

Porja noted that the rise in temperatures began on Monday and that the peak of the heat is expected in the middle of the week and during the first week of August.

She added that starting from Wednesday, the wind will drop, which will make the heat feel more intense. “On Thursday and Friday, the thermometer will reach up to 40 degrees Celsius,” the meteorologist said.

According to her, the first week of August will be under the dominance of this African wave, where temperatures in some cities will go up to 42 degrees Celsius.

Porja identified the regions of Shkodra, Elbasan, and Berat as the hottest, but Tirana, Fier, and Lushnja will also record very high values.

In Kukës and Has, temperatures will climb up to 36 degrees, while the southeastern areas will maintain some relative coolness.

Regarding rainfall, she described it as negligible, with only a few drops of rain in the eastern mountains on Monday. From Tuesday onward, the weather will be dry and mostly clear.

This is the third heat wave the country is experiencing during July and it is expected to last until around August 8-9, she emphasized.

Focusing on the region, Porja stressed that Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Montenegro will also experience a significant rise in temperatures mid-week.

In Kosovo, up to 38 degrees Celsius are expected, while the heat wave will gradually encompass the entire Balkans.

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Kosovo’s acting president, Albulena Haxhiu, announced several days ago that the constitutive session of the new Assembly legislature, resulting from the June 7 elections, is expected to be held in early August.

However, there are still no concrete signs that the political parties are close to a compromise. For this reason, it remains uncertain whether the institutions will be formed within the deadline or whether Kosovo will enter another political crisis, with consequences for the functioning of the state.

Speaking to “Bota sot,” Albanian-American activist Agim Aliçkaj described the formation of new institutions as urgent and called on the parties to find a solution as soon as possible. He also referred to the invitations the acting prime minister has extended to opposition leaders for meetings.

According to Aliçkaj, after three rounds of elections that he considers entirely unnecessary, efforts to establish state institutions have become a matter that can no longer wait. He said that swift results must be achieved this time, as otherwise the functioning and very existence of the Republic of Kosovo would be at risk.

He said Prime Minister Kurti appears to have understood the importance of his role by respectfully inviting the leaders of the PDK, LDK and AAK to serious and proper talks on establishing the governing institutions. However, according to him, the statements and conduct of opposition leaders during the initial contacts do not indicate that they have properly understood the seriousness of this emergency.

Aliçkaj criticized the opposition parties’ responses to Kurti’s invitation, saying that they were showing no willingness to compromise. In his assessment, the AAK is avoiding dialogue, while the PDK intends to remain in opposition and is counting on the possibility of new elections.

Speaking about the AAK, he said its leader, Ardian Gjini, had rejected talks by presenting six demands, even though he claims they are not conditions. According to Aliçkaj, Gjini feels secure because he believes the party has nothing more to lose and that its loyal voters guarantee its presence in Parliament. He claimed that preventing the winner from governing is more important to the AAK leader, even if the state is weakened, adding that a party with such an approach does not deserve to cross the electoral threshold.

Regarding the PDK, Aliçkaj said its leader had merely made public the decision of those he called the party’s real bosses that it should remain in opposition. According to him, this amounts to a boycott of the process of establishing the institutions, in the hope that LVV and the divided LDK will be unable to secure a quorum for the election of the president and that the country will be forced to hold elections again.

He claimed that the PDK’s interest in a new electoral process is linked to what he described as deceptions by Serbian lobbyist and former US ambassador Richard Grenell regarding the release of Thaçi and Veseli from the Hague Court. Aliçkaj added that even if they were released, their impact on the vote would be minimal. According to him, the party’s real problems are corruption, subservience to foreigners and concessions to Serbia, and without apologizing for past mistakes and changing, it cannot secure new votes.

As for the LDK, Aliçkaj said the party is gripped by major internal uncertainty and that it is unclear who controls it. He recalled that leader Lumir Abdixhiku and former President Vjosa Osmani had begun talks with Prime Minister Kurti on the possibility of a coalition on a positive note, but claimed that Abdixhiku was forced to suspend them quickly after his position came under threat.

According to Aliçkaj, the LDK leader must now resolve his disagreements with fellow party members, some of whom, he claimed, sympathize with the Serb List, some with the priests of the Patriarchate of Peja and others with the PDK.

The Albanian activist further warned that the protracted political crisis is creating a dangerous situation for the state of Kosovo. He said there is no longer any room for boycotts, blockades or excuses and that blaming other parties serves no one.

Aliçkaj emphasized that only the people of Kosovo can determine who is to blame and that a people who have suffered so much and shown such patience cannot be deceived. According to him, responsibility for forming the institutions rests with all the parties that participated in the elections and, in particular, with the lawmakers elected by the people, regardless of who won and who lost.

He called on the losing parties to accept the result, act as a constructive opposition, change and work hard toward a possible victory in the regular elections four years from now. According to him, the citizens’ vote has designated Kurti as the leader.

Aliçkaj said everyone must respect the popular will expressed through the vote and understand that without a state they represent nothing. He said that, for the third consecutive time and by a decisive vote, citizens had expressed their desire for Kosovo to be led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his coalition.

According to him, if the lawmakers elected by the people follow the path of God rather than that of the devil, a solution can easily be found. He said Mr. Kurti could form the government and Parliament through a simple coalition, as needed.

For the presidency, Aliçkaj proposed putting forward three capable, independent and nonpartisan candidates. According to him, lawmakers should remain in the chamber and vote, as this is an obligation arising from the mandate for which they were elected, while the president should be elected by a majority vote.

Finally, he described Kosovo’s Constitution as highly complex and drafted for educated and conscientious people, but said it had granted excessive privileges to minorities. According to Aliçkaj, the Serb List is abusing these provisions with the aim of destroying the state.

He also criticized the decision of Kosovo’s Constitutional Court, saying that the election of the president had been complicated by what he called the unnecessary requirement for a quorum of two-thirds of lawmakers. Aliçkaj called for ways to be found to change these rules in order to create a normal situation and prevent the state from being blocked.

Concluding his remarks to “Bota sot,” Agim Aliçkaj said that establishing the institutions constitutes a state and national obligation. He warned that boycotting and blocking them for an extended period, regardless of the reasons, could turn into hostility and treason against the state and the nation.

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A few days ago, Albulena Haxhiu, acting President of Kosovo, announced that the session for the constitution of the next legislature of the Assembly, resulting from the June 7 elections, is expected to be held in the first weeks of August.

However, due to the lack of concrete indicators of an agreement between the parties, it remains unclear whether the country will be able to establish its institutions within the deadlines or will face a new political blockade and the consequences it brings to state functioning.

On this issue, Agim Aliçkaj, an Albanian activist from the United States, told “Bota sot”, describing the formation of new institutions as an emergency and stressing that political forces must reach a solution without wasting time.

In this context, he also refers to the calls of the acting prime minister for meetings with opposition leaders.

“Efforts to constitute the state bodies, after three rounds of completely unnecessary elections, have become an immediate necessity, which now must absolutely produce quick results. Otherwise, the functioning and the very existence of the Republic of Kosovo are endangered.

Prime Minister Kurti seems to have understood the weight of his role, by respectfully inviting the leaders of PDK, LDK and AAK to regular and serious discussions on the formation of governing institutions. The statements and positions of the opposition leaders during the first contacts do not indicate that they are up to the task of perceiving the seriousness of this emergency situation,” he said.

Furthermore, Aliçkaj commented on the opposition parties’ reactions to Kurti’s invitation, criticizing them for a lack of readiness for compromise. He said that AAK is opposing dialogue, while PDK, according to him, aims to remain in opposition and counts on new elections.

For the LDK, Aliçkaj stressed that it is going through a period of internal confusion, which, according to him, has also led to the suspension of negotiations for a possible cooperation with the Vetëvendosje Movement.

“The head of AAK, Ardian Gjini, has opposed the talks, presenting six conditions, which he says are not conditions. He seems relaxed, because he thinks his party has nothing left to lose and that it has a stable electorate to secure a presence in Parliament. For him, it is more important that the winner does not govern, even if the state weakens. Such a political entity does not deserve to pass the electoral threshold.

The head of PDK has merely made public the decision of the party’s real leaders that it should remain in opposition. This implies boycotting the process of creating institutions, in the hope that LVV, together with the divided LDK, will not manage to secure the quorum for electing the President, and that the country will head towards new elections.

PDK’s interest in new elections is based on the manipulations of the Serbian lobbyist, former US ambassador Richard Grenell, for the release of Thaçi and Veseli from the Hague Tribunal. They fail to understand that, even if released, their impact on votes will be negligible. Their core problem is corruption, subservience to foreigners, and concessions to Serbia. If they do not apologize for past mistakes and do not transform themselves, they have no way to gain new votes.

The LDK has turned into complete chaos and it is unknown who controls it. The head of LDK, Lumir Abdixhiku, together with former President Vjosa Osmani, started discussions well with Prime Minister Kurti for a possible coalition. But very soon he had to suspend the talks because his position was jeopardized. Now he must deal with internal party factions, some of whom have sympathies for the Serbian List, some for the clerics of the Patriarchate of Peja, and some for PDK,” he underlined.

Further, the Albanian activist stressed that political blockades are seriously damaging the state, adding that all parties bear responsibility for creating new institutions.

“The prolonged political crisis is turning into a threatening situation for the state of Kosovo. There is no more room for boycotts, blockades, or justifications for them. Blaming others does not benefit anyone.

Only the people of Kosovo determine the guilty ones, and this much-suffering, patient people cannot be fooled. All parties that took part in the elections bear responsibility for setting up institutions, especially the deputies elected by the people, regardless of who won and who lost.”

Likewise, he called on the opposition to accept the result and cooperate with the winning force, since the citizens, with their vote, chose Kurti as leader.

Regarding the president’s issue, according to him, three capable, independent, and non-partisan candidacies should be proposed.

“The losers of the elections have only one honorable path: to become a constructive opposition, to change, and to work hard for a possible victory in regular elections four years from now.

Everyone must respect the people’s will expressed through the vote and understand once and for all that, without the state, they are nobody. For the third time in a row, by a strong vote, the people are expressing their desire that the state be led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his coalition.

If the deputies elected by the people are on the path of God and not of the devil, the solution is easy. The Government and Parliament can be formed by Mr. Kurti, with some light coalition as needed. Three capable, independent, and non-partisan candidates should be proposed for president. The deputies must stay in the hall for the vote, as required by the obligation of the work for which they were elected. The president should be elected by majority vote,” he elaborated.

In the end, he added that the Constitution of Kosovo has provisions that, according to him, allow the blocking of institutions, and that they should be reviewed to prevent political crises.

Aliçkaj stressed that creating institutions is a state and national obligation, noting that prolonged boycotts and blockades damage the state’s functioning.

“The Constitution of Kosovo is highly complicated and was drafted for elevated and conscientious people, but it has also given excessive privileges to minorities. The Serbian List exploits it with the aim of destroying the state. The Constitutional Court of Kosovo has complicated the election of the President with the decision on the unnecessary quorum requirement of two-thirds of deputies. Ways must be found to change these rules and create a normal situation that does not allow the blocking of the state.

Creating institutions is a state and national obligation. Their prolonged boycott and blockade, regardless of the reasons, can turn into hostility and treason against the state and nation,” concluded Agim Aliçkaj for “Bota sot”.

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