“Not with Vetëvendosje” is the warning issued by all opposition parties regarding the possibility of any post-election coalition to form a new government, which is expected to emerge from the February 9, 2025 elections. At the same time, “Not with the opposition parties” is the warning that has come from the other side—the Vetëvendosje Movement. Thus, both “blocks” have drawn red lines against each other. Until the certification of the election results, it is unclear how many deputies each party will have in the Kosovo Assembly, but traditionally, if no party wins enough votes to form a government on its own, negotiations for post-election coalitions begin immediately. During election campaigns, it is often the case that parties set ‘red lines,’ stating they will not form coalitions with certain parties. Past experiences show that these red lines are sometimes lifted after the elections.
Vetëvendosje Wants Another Mandate Alone
For the 2025 elections, the party aiming to maintain power, Vetëvendosje, has stated that it will not form a post-election coalition and seeks to form the new government with its pre-election coalition partners—the Alternative Party and the Guxo Party. Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi stated on February 4, 2025, that after the February 9 elections, Vetëvendosje will continue governing with the same coalition partners. He excluded the possibility of including any opposition party in the government.
“In the event that any of them tries to secure your vote under the false pretense that they will govern with us, do not trust them. Take their attempt only as confirmation of their deceitful and manipulative nature,” Bislimi wrote on Facebook.
The current Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, who is also Vetëvendosje’s candidate for Prime Minister, declared that the opposition parties (PDK, LDK, and AAK) are un-reformed. “Given that especially in recent months, the attacks against our subject, against good and democratic governance, we do not see any possibility for any coalition in the next term, and it will not even be necessary,” Kurti declared in an interview for Kosova Press on January 6, 2025.
PDK: A Big Gap with Vetëvendosje
The Chairman of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Memli Krasniqi, also spoke about a possible post-election coalition. In an interview on the “Pressing” show on January 27, 2025, he said there is a big gap between PDK and Vetëvendosje. “We have essential differences, not only about the past but also about the future. There is no room for a government between PDK and Vetëvendosje, because our differences are extraordinary. We are not in the race to return to power for the sake of power. We prefer a new government with the current opposition,” Krasniqi said on January 27, 2025.
LDK Does Not See a Possible Coalition with Vetëvendosje in These Current Circumstances
Arben Gashi, a candidate for deputy from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), stated on the “DebatPërnime” show that LDK does not see Vetëvendosje as a partner in any form. “This is an exclusive question for the party chairman, but the chairman has publicly stated that he does not see Vetëvendosje (LVV) as a governing partner. In no form, cooperation with LVV under the current circumstances,” Gashi said on February 6, 2025.
Haradinaj: Not with Vetëvendosje, but Yes to PDK and LDK
Ramush Haradinaj, the candidate for Prime Minister from the AAK-Nisma coalition, excluded any possibility of a post-election coalition with Vetëvendosje if they do not secure enough votes to form a government. However, he considers the opposition parties, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), as partners.
“I am currently in coalition with the Social Democratic Initiative, the Conservatives, the Intellectuals’ List, and many authorities such as Mr. Haki Abazi, Arton Demhasaj, and many professors, youth, and others. The newest member is Lora Leci. I am working towards a government that I will lead, but if the votes from this coalition are not enough, I consider the current opposition parties, PDK and LDK, as partners,” Haradinaj said on the “DebatPërnime” show on February 5, 2025. “Not with Vetëvendosje, no,” he firmly stated.
The February 9th Elections
According to the certified Voter List by the Central Election Commission, the number of Kosovo citizens eligible to vote in the February 9, 2025 elections is 2,075,868 voters, of which 1,970,944 voters are on the Voter List within Kosovo, and 104,924 voters are from the Voter List abroad. A total of 28 political entities, with 1,280 candidates, have been certified for these elections. The official campaign for the parliamentary elections started on January 11, 2025.
These will be the first regular elections held by Kosovo since its declaration of independence in 2008. Unlike these elections, in the early elections held on February 14, 2021, 903,379 voters participated, or 48.78% of the total registered voters of 1,794,862 according to the CEC. The Vetëvendosje Movement emerged victorious in those elections, winning 50.2% of the vote, or 438,335 votes. PDK ranked second with 17% or 148,285 votes, followed by LDK with 12.7% or 110,985 votes, AAK with 7.1% or 62,111 votes, and the Serb List with 5% or 44,407 votes. Based on this result, on March 22, 2021, the Kosovo Assembly elected the government led by Albin Kurti from Vetëvendosje with 67 votes in favor, 30 against, and no abstentions.
