Posts From Luke Bacigalupo
Kosovo: Government toppled over Coronavirus
On 25 March the smaller party in Kosovo’s ruling coalition, the LDK, won a vote of no-confidence in the government of which it was a part. The vote was initiated over the government’s handling of the coronavirus, but this was not the only reason that the government fell.
Parliamentary elections in Kosovo
On 7 October Kosovo went to the polls. Vetëvendosje was the single largest party. Meaning ‘self-determination’, Vetëvendosje has a history of being a protest movement that has criticised the role of the international community in Kosovo.
Western Balkans: A ‘Mini-Schengen’ Zone
Leaders of Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia declared they would implement a mini-Schengen zone with free movement of goods, capital, services, & people
Tariffs bite in North Kosovo, but how badly?
On 21st November 2018 Kosovo imposed 100% tariffs on goods from Serbia. On 1st July 2019, businesses in the Serb-dominated north Kosovo shut their doors and protested against the policy.
Kosovo PM resigns after Specialist Chambers summons
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj resigned on 19 July, after the Specialist Chambers called him for questioning. The Chambers deal with cases of war crimes, crimes against humanity and other crimes committed during and after the 1990s conflict in Kosovo.
Division and Apathy in North Macedonia
On 5th May, voters in North Macedonia went to the polls to choose a new president. It was the first election held since the country changed its legal name from
Eastern Ukraine: Is reintegration still a realistic prospect?
On 24 April, Russia signed a decree allowing residents of rebel-controlled areas of Eastern Ukraine to apply for Russian passports. This was the latest in a series of steps making the reintegration of the Donbass less likely.
Romania’s campaign against Laura Codruța Kövesi
Laura Codruța Kövesi, the former head of Romania’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), has secured many high-profile convictions in her career.
A Balkan ‘Spring’ or Protests Doomed to Fail?
Since late 2018, the main opposition parties in Albania, Montenegro and Serbia have been boycotting their respective parliaments. Public protests have supported this, initiating a Balkan ‘spring’. Will the protests succeed or fail?
Greece ends Macedonia name dispute
On 25 January, the Greek Parliament ratified the Prespa Agreement, thereby ending a 28-year-long dispute over the name of Greece’s northern neighbour. This heralds a new start in Greek-Macedonian relations, but it also has important international implications, including for the NATO and Russia.
