A show of political hypocrisy: Albania-Kosovo joint session

When Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti attempted to vote in the Albanian elections in April 2021, believing his vote would topple Edi Rama from power, he revealed a peculiar honesty. That act, though irrational, was transparent in its intent. In contrast, Edi Rama’s upcoming visit to Kosovo on Friday, December 20th, for a joint parliamentary session, seems far less sincere.

Kurti’s actions demonstrated the candidness of a politician convinced that all eyes are on him. As an opponent of Rama, Kurti has consistently employed every possible tactic to undermine Albania’s prime minister. Meanwhile, Rama’s decision to attend a joint session between the Albanian and Kosovo parliaments appears more calculated than genuine. It’s a move designed to embarrass Kurti, who had previously requested such an event, seemingly as part of his electoral strategy in Kosovo. By treating Kurti as a politician in trouble, effectively surrendering to his Albanian counterpart, Rama cynically inserts himself into this spectacle.

Since Kurti’s interference in Albania’s elections—including voting against Rama—the latter has sought to make a point. Rama’s contemptuous style sends a message: unlike Kurti, he does not meddle in another country’s affairs. Yet, by agreeing to the joint parliamentary session in Prishtina, Rama cleverly positions himself as magnanimous, while also highlighting Kurti’s perceived weaknesses.

This session, however, reeks of political hypocrisy. During Kurti’s tenure as prime minister, relations between Kosovo and Albania have reached a low point, largely due to Kurti’s actions. While previous Kosovo leaders did not enjoy warm relations with Rama, they at least participated in joint governmental meetings, making promises—even if unfulfilled—to maintain appearances. Kurti, on the other hand, rejected these meetings outright. Now, as Kosovo’s electoral campaign looms, he seeks the symbolic value of a joint parliamentary session to distract from the strained ties between the two countries.

The reality is that Albania and Kosovo have diverging geopolitical paths. Albania strives for European Union membership, while Kurti has led Kosovo into a series of confrontations with the EU and worsened relations with the U.S. His government’s actions have convinced the West that he is neither trustworthy nor aligned with their interests. For Kurti, the “West” seems limited to his diaspora supporters, who, despite living in Western countries, advocate for Kosovo’s defiance against Western institutions.

What message does this joint parliamentary session aim to convey? Will Albania endorse Kosovo’s increasingly anti-Western stance, or will Kurti signal a change and adopt a more pro-Western outlook? For Kurti, it’s unlikely. He views Europe as an ally of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and has even portrayed Rama as complicit in this alliance due to their shared alignment with the EU. The same narrative applies to the U.S.; any advice from Albania urging Kosovo to maintain its Western alliances is dismissed as being influenced by Belgrade’s interests, fully aware that such accusations harm Albania’s standing.

So, what will Friday’s session achieve beyond a display of nationalist rhetoric and symbolic speeches? At best, it allows Kurti to reassure his critics in Kosovo that he is not at odds with Albania. For Rama, it’s an opportunity to emphasize his distinction from Kurti, presenting himself as a leader who respects other nations’ sovereignty.

Ultimately, this spectacle is futile. Kurti has historically leveraged Albania for his nationalist rhetoric, using it to bolster his acceptance in Kosovo. Once in power, he fostered conflict with Albania to assert his independence. Now, sensing a potential loss of influence, he seeks to repeat this strategy. As the saying goes, history repeats itself—first as tragedy, then as farce. This time, the farce will unfold in Kosovo’s parliament.