Grand coalition

Kosovo daily Tribuna is publishing this interview with Deputy Foreign Minister Petrit Selimi, on the occasion of the formation of a “grand coalition” involving the country’s two largest political parties. This follows five months of stalemate since the June parliamentary election. peacefare.net would be happy to publish comments or replies from those opposed to the grand coalition.

Tribuna:  The coalition agreement was signed between the two political parties PDK and LDK, ending the political stalemate. Immediately after the signing, there was a debate on whether Isa Mustafa is mandated to form the new government? What is the format of the new agreement?

Selimi:  The important thing is that an agreement of a great political reconciliation between the two main political parties of Kosovo was reached. It was not easy for either side and neither party has won maximum of the requirements but on the other hand, this coalition is not against anyone but pro-economic development, pro-European integration and pro-good governance. The exact architecture of senior positions will be determined by the working groups in the coming days, but it is clear that there are three vacancies: the position of the Assembly Speaker, the Prime Minister and the President after President Jahjaga’s term ends. This triangle will define the roles of the leaders of the two parties. More important is that together with the minorities, this government will have a stable majority close to 90 MPs and as such it represents an enormous potential for the completion of many economic and political priorities.

Tribuna:  How come that Prime Minister Thaci managed to enter a coalition? For a long time it seemed that entire opposition is united against PDK and Thaci? Does this new coalition now have support of Kosovo Serbs?

Selimi:  Well, PDK was a clear winner of national elections and was about to start the creation of institutions, when opposition united in an agreement to stop PDK from third mandate. But this blockade had problems. Firstly, this post-election agreement was not constitutional as Kosovo Constitution guarantees the Speaker of the Parliament to the winning party. Secondly, the opposition agreement also failed to provide guarantees of continuing the dialogue in Brussels, which is one of the most important tasks that awaits the future government of Kosovo.

So, we found ourselves in a stalemate where one party won the elections and had the legal right to initiate creation of institutions but the other parties refused to talk to PDK for 5 months. In the end, rationality prevailed and compromise solution was found between two biggest parties in Kosovo which are now in a grand coalition, just like in Germany. This coalition consists of parties that both support dialogue, privatization and economic reforms, fight against corruption and organized crime. It’s a good coalition as it ensures that both LDK, with origin from Rugova’s pacifist policies and PDK, which is led by the pragmatic and pro-European Hashim Thaci who led guerilla movement, are now together. This is a very good news for internal cohesion of Kosovo as well as for the process of reconciliation between Kosovars of Albanian and Serbian origin.

Tribuna:  There is still distrust in the respective parties against this agreement. Political analysts call it immoral while in LDK there are voices that do not support this coalition?

Selimi: This election cycle and the political stalemate have proven that many so-called analysts are partisans with subjective agendas. It is natural that PDK and LDK have people who are critical of the agreement because both parties are massive and have a variety of voices within. It is important that the absolute majority of the General Councils of PDK and LDK supported the coalition and the principles that would move the country forward. This coalition and this new government have a broad popular support, a strong international support and a democratic mandate for tough reforms. As far as morals and politics, I think this coalition and the new agreement are much more moral and easily understood than the failed agreement of VLAN, where something called Balkan “inat” and personal attacks were driving force behind the failed agreement. This being said, we are neither imams nor priests but politicians who should work to achieve our programmatic objectives.

Tribuna:  However, you agree that PDK should thank LDK for its political life extension and a new term gained?

Selimi: Both parties have to thank each other for the vision and courage. It was not easy to stretch the hand to another for the good of the country, but if Kosovo can talk to former foes in Serbia it is clear that the talks between the Albanian parties should be fundamentally easier and more pragmatic. If we look at the human resources of both parties, it seems like FC Barcelona is joining Real Madrid and maybe to someone the political league of Kosovo will become boring with the absence of large opposition block, but I think it is a powerful message for Kosovo to have such a super-team for the good of country and the international competition for development, recognition and integration into EU and NATO.

Tribuna:  Now you have the Serbian List controlled by Vucic. Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) has accused you that you will be subordinate to this List and their demands for autonomy?

Selimi:  The opposite is true that only the PDK-LDK coalition has guaranteed that the government will not be held hostage by minority parties or Albanian nationalists who refuse dialogue and consequently the European path. But I do not agree that we should see politics as a process of hijacks. We should be glad that the Serbian List is participating in the institutions and respecting the Constitution and that it has ended the mental blockade that lasted for 15 years to integrate into our society. I absolutely think that PDK and LDK can and will find a common ground with the Serbian List for the good of all citizens in Kosovo. For years we have sought integration of northern Kosovo institutions and this is being achieved.

Tribuna:  What are the priorities of the new government?

Selimi:  They are clear: to adopt a package of legislation that will probably require constitutional changes such as the Special Court for war crimes, then the law on fighters abroad, final decisions on the visa liberalization roadmap, the budget and some other laws such as the Armed Forces of Kosovo. With this parliamentary majority we can work on electoral reforms and address some shortcomings of the Constitution that have been identified in recent months. But I believe that the citizens of Kosovo have a priority out of all priorities such as the economy and the creation of new jobs, and this should be the main objective. The bottom line of the privatizations of Brezovica, Power Plant “Kosova e Re” and several other projects could have been some immediate steps to bring confidence in the economy of Kosovo. This coalition provides optimism and offers guarantees that the processes of market economy will have a stable majority in the parliament and not repeat the failure such as in the case of the privatization of PTK last year.

Tribuna:  Do you know how has LDK made such a dramatic turn? Was it the decisive role of the US Embassy?

Selimi:  I do not think that LDK has made a dramatic turn, but I am not the party’s spokesperson. They have always emphasized that they are institutionalists and this agreement is as such – it provides guarantees for stable institutions. Nor do I think the US Embassy had any direct or indirect role, but it is clear that all our allies support an agreement that produces progressive governance. This government is a native product of a native agreement between Kosovo parties and that’s why I think that Western governments will warmly welcome the new government when voted into parliament.

Tribuna:  When will the new government be voted? Why haven’t you convened the parliamentary session yet?

Selimi:  The parliamentary session will be convened in a few days when the working groups define programmatic priorities and allocation of senior positions. We waited nearly six months. It is important that we do not make mistakes in a rush. Kosovo will have a functional government, an approved budget and a clear government program during 2014 so that next year we enter with clear objectives.

Tribuna:  You are rumored to be one of the people who have worked on the election campaign of the “PDK – New Mission.” Is the promise of the creation of 200,000 new jobs realizable or is there anything from the program that can be realized?

Selimi:  No electoral promise is empty, but they are based on numbers and empirical data and projections. Politics is the art of the possible – a cliché perhaps but that shows that we should aim for optimum realization. Neither President Obama nor President Hollande nor Chancellor Merkel nor Prime Minister Cameron have realized even close to 100% of their electoral promises, but voters know how close we can get and whether there is justification for eventual failures. People voted us because our campaign looked like a glass half full – with the shortcomings and failures but also have touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of citizens. Therefore, we received the vote of confidence and now together with LDK we will invest in this electoral capital to realize the optimum of the promises.