Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK, attempts to win votes and return as Kosovo Prime Minister after the February 9 elections by promising to strengthen Kosovo’s relationship with the United States, fulfill international obligations, and push for Kosovo’s NATO membership.
Ramush Haradinaj, the leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK, plans to become Kosovo’s Prime Minister once again, as the candidate of AAK-NISMA coalition. He previously served as PM from December 2004 to March 2005 and from September 2017 to February 2020.
Haradinaj told BIRN and Internews Kosova co-produced electoral debate ‘Debat Përnime’ that his main priority is “complete and lasting security,” for Kosovo, aiming for NATO membership, which is also the slogan of the AAK-NISMA—‘Direkt në NATO’ (Directly at NATO). According to Haradinaj, joining NATO would bring political and diplomatic benefits and ease membership in other organisations.
Although NATO peacekeeping troops, KFOR, have been stationed in Kosovo since the 1998-99 war, the newest state in Europe has not yet secured its place in the alliance. On February 9, 2022, the Government of Kosovo established an inter-institutional Working Group for Kosovo’s NATO membership.
Lumir Abdixhiku, PM candidate and leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, was also invited to present his plans at ‘Debat Përnime.’ However, he canceled at the last minute and sent the current head of the LDK parliamentary group and MP candidate Arben Gashi instead.
Bedri Hamza, the PM candidate of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, also canceled his presence at Debat Përnime at the last minute.
Kosovo’s current PM Albin Kurti, leader and PM candidate of the ruling party Vetëvendosje, refused to attend Debat Përnime electoral debates. Vetëvendosje boycotted all electoral debates organized by BIRN and Internews Kosova that air on TV Dukagjini, alleging that the broadcast is owned by oligarchs.
Haradinaj, a former ally of Vetëvendosje, when both parties were in opposition in 2016-2017, ruled out any possibility of a post-election coalition.
Promise of fulfilling “bilateral, multilateral, and dialogue” obligations
Richard Grenell, US President Donald Trump’s envoy for special missions (L), Ramush Haradinaj, AAK leader (R), on Jan 19, 2025. Photo: Official Facebook Account of Ramush Haradinaj
On February 5, Haradinaj emphasised that he wants “to restore the dignity of the state of the Republic of Kosovo, for everyone.”
“Every obligation discussed with the United States, I think we should fulfill it immediately. Quickly, accurately, immediately,” he said, adding the Trump administration is not like the previous US administrations which have “tolerated, endured, [and] protected Kosovo.”
“This administration doesn’t care if you are grateful or ungrateful. They no longer have that problem. Their solution is: ‘It costs us money, you’re not aligned with us, you’re not a reliable partner—move on.’ I believe we need to change this. We need to be re-qualified.”
Therefore, according to him, Kosovo should fulfill all “bilateral, multilateral, and dialogue” obligations it has made with international partners.
However, Haradinaj wants to put a stop to the EU-mediated Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue that has been ongoing since 2013. “There has been an inflation of agreements since its inception,” he said.
Haradinaj pledged to submit the draft statute for the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities, also agreed in the EU-mediated Kosovo Serbia 2023 Ohrid Deal, for interpretation by the Constitutional Court “immediately, at the first meeting of the Government.”
The Ohrid Agreement was verbally agreed upon by Kosovo PM Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, in Ohrid, North Macedonia, on March 18, 2023 and is the implementation Annex to the normalisation of relations Basic Agreement that was reached in Brussels on February 28, 2023.
The normalisation of relations deal, which contains 11 articles, includes provisions for a level of self-management for the Serb community in Kosovo and mutual recognition of state symbols, while also requiring both Prishtina and Belgrade to implement all previous agreements reached during the dialogue.
Kosovo and Serbia reached an agreement on the Association of Serb Municipalities in 2013 and later in 2015 on the principles for its establishment. However, in 2015, the Kosovo Constitutional Court ruled that the agreement was not fully in line with the Constitution.
For membership in the Council of Europe and UNESCO, Haradinaj said that the former is a priority because it is necessary for NATO membership, while for UNESCO, he remains supportive of Trump’s actions, who decided to withdraw the United States from this international organisation.
“Civil Code should not be held hostage”
Kosovo’s 997-page civil code has not passed a parliamentary vote due to resistance in the parliament for the legalisation of same-sex marriage. The civil code has the following provision: : “Registered civil unions between persons of the same sex are allowed. Conditions and procedures are regulated by a special law.”
Haradinaj highlights that he stands “for traditional families—father, mother, child —as we were taught, without causing any hindrances or consequences for people who have other choices”, but also “I think it’s not good to hold the Civil Code hostage because of this article.”
“Personally, I don’t interfere with anyone’s privacy,” he added.
Kosovo law currently does not allow same-sex marriages. The constitution, on the other hand, recognises that “on the basis of free consent, everyone enjoys the right to marry and the right to create a family in accordance with the law.”
PM Kurti had promised to pass the code in the parliament but could not achieve the necessary quorum, even among his party.
Ardita Zeqiri contributed to this article.