A Political Update: The Formation of the New Government of Kosovo, Minority Community Representation and Challenges Ahead
Following almost 6 months of political wrangling, the Assembly of Kosovo elected Isa Mustafa, chairman of LDK and former mayor of Pristina, Prime Minister on 9 December 2014. Mustafa was elected with 73 votes for, 38 against, and 2 abstentions. His election is part of the PDK-LDK agreement agreed in late November and signed on 8 December. The agreement stipulates that the government will be led by Isa Mustafa, chairman of LDK, with Hashim Thaçi, chairman of PDK and outgoing Prime Minister, serving as deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Srpska lista—a coalition of several parties representing the Serbian community in Kosovo—is also part of the coalition government led by Mustafa and several of its representatives have been appointed in the new government.
Kosovo has been largely stagnating for the past six months in terms of political developments and in its domestic and also in its European integration agenda. Set against the backdrop of a fledgling economy and an increase in the number of economic migrants reminiscent of the mass migrations of the 1990s, the new government has a long list of priority items awaiting it.
The following political update seeks to provide a detailed overview of the formation of the new government, of the appointment of minority community representatives in the government in line with constitutional requirements, as well as provide a brief assessment of the challenges and priorities awaiting it.