Week in Review: Response and Responsibility

The Impossible

The coronavirus seems to be doing the impossible - making Balkan politicians put petty squabbles on hold and act like statesmen, prioritising the public interest - particularly public health - in an effort to stem the pandemic. In most cases, at least.

A country like Bosnia - whose dysfunctionality was prominently on display until recently - is suddenly functioning better than ever. Politicians who appeared not to be on speaking terms are suddenly working together and all levels of government seem to know what their role is, more or less. Across the region, states seem to have stepped up to the challenge in stemming the spread of the pandemic. But the latest crisis is also forcing regional leaders to reassess their international alliances and orientations. In their hour of need, the EU is consumed with its own efforts to handle the pandemic and seems to have left them out in the cold. China, meanwhile, seems willing to help and fill the void.

Read more: Pandemic Forces Balkan Politicians to Get Serious, At Last (March 20, 2020)

Priorities

Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti. Photo: EPA-EFE/MALTON DIBRA

While political leaders in most of the Balkans scramble to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, in Kosovo this seems to be taking a back seat to toppling the Kurti government in this moment of crisis. Angered by Kurti's dismissal of its interior minister, the LDK - Vetevendosje's coalition partner - tabled a motion of no confidence in the Government on March 20. Days later, on March 25, the motion passed with the support of the opposition.

Thus ended - after just 51 days - what some had dubbed the 'coalition of hope'. President Thaci will now need to find someone capable of forming a new government, or...

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