The Ambassador of Sweden to Kosovo, Jonas Westerlund, has called on Kosovo’s political leaders to urgently form institutions, stressing that political compromise is essential even for the largest party in parliament.
In an interview for Ekonomia Online, Westerlund underlined that Kosovo needs a president and a functioning government as soon as possible, arguing that democratic responsibility requires cooperation and compromise between political parties.
He emphasized that even parties with the highest electoral support must be willing to negotiate in order to ensure institutional stability.
“This is not a game. It is about serving the people,” he said, adding that political leaders must prioritize governance over party interests.
Westerlund also referred to the post-war political period in Kosovo, recalling the time of former President Ibrahim Rugova.
He mentioned the 1999 post-war elections, noting that Rugova’s party had won a significant share of votes but still lacked the two-thirds majority needed to elect a president.
According to Westerlund, even strong electoral results do not eliminate the need for political compromise, especially in systems where supermajorities are required for key state institutions.
His remarks come amid ongoing debates in Kosovo over institutional deadlock and the difficulty of forming stable governing structures following elections.
