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Vjosa Osmani

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Her Excellency
Vjosa Osmani
Official portrait, 2021
President of Kosovo
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 April 2021
Prime MinisterAlbin Kurti
Preceded byGlauk Konjufca (acting)
Acting
5 November 2020 – 22 March 2021
Prime MinisterAvdullah Hoti
Preceded byHashim Thaçi
Succeeded byGlauk Konjufca (acting)
Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo
In office
3 February 2020 – 22 March 2021
PresidentHashim Thaçi
Preceded byGlauk Konjufca
Succeeded byGlauk Konjufca
Personal details
Born (1982-05-17) 17 May 1982 (age 42)[1]
Mitrovica, SFR Yugoslavia
present Kosovo
NationalityAlbanian
Political partyIndependent (2021–present)
Other political
affiliations
Spouse
Prindon Sadriu
​
(m. 2012)​
[3]
Children2
EducationUniversity of Pristina
University of Pittsburgh (LLM, SJD)[4]
ProfessionPolitician and legal academic
Signature

Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu (born 17 May 1982) is a Kosovo Albanian jurist and politician who is the current president of Kosovo since 2021.[5][6] Osmani was born and raised in Titova Mitrovica, SFR Yugoslavia (present-day Kosovo) and studied law at the University of Pristina and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She worked as an advisor to the president of Kosovo Fatmir Sejdiu before she was elected to the Assembly. Osmani held the position of Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo from February 2020 to March 2021, and also served as acting president between November 2020 and March 2021 after the resignation of President Hashim Thaçi. Upon her election as president, Osmani became the second woman to hold the position, as well as the first person to have served as both acting president and president of Kosovo. Osmani successfully ran on an anti-corruption platform and has expressed a desire to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Since taking office, Osmani has returned the flag of Dardania as the official symbol of the presidency.

Life and career

[edit]

Vjosa Osmani was born on 17 May 1982 in Titova Mitrovica, Kosovo, then a part of the Socialist Republic of Serbia, Yugoslavia to ethnic Albanian parents.[1][7] She grew up with four siblings, and completed her primary and secondary education in her hometown.[7][1] Osmani was a teenager during the Kosovo War, and she once stated that she "can still feel" the barrel of an M70 rifle that a soldier forced into her mouth after her home in Mitrovica had been raided.[7]

Osmani earned her bachelor's degree in law from the University of Prishtina.[8][9] She continued with graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (Pitt Law), earning a master's degree in law (LLM) in 2005 and a doctorate in juridical science (SJD) in 2015.[10][4][11] Her doctoral dissertation addressed the applicability of the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) in Kosovo as Kosovo's legal status has evolved since 1988, when the CISG first entered into force.[11] Osmani has been a teaching assistant at the University of Pristina,[9][12] a lecturer at RIT Kosovo,[9][1] and a visiting professor at the University of Pittsburgh.[9][10]

Meeting with former prime minister Isa Mustafa and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green in 2019

Osmani's political career began in her teens, as an activist for the centre-right Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK).[1] On 27 August 2009, she was elected chief of staff for then president Fatmir Sejdiu.[1] Osmani had also served as legal counsel and foreign policy advisor to the president.[10] She was a member of the Assembly of Kosovo for three terms, and once received the largest number of votes for a female politician in Kosovan parliamentary history.[10][1] Osmani contributed to the independence of Kosovo, as the president's representative for the Constitution Commission, the body that prepared the Kosovan constitution. She represented Kosovo in a case at the International Court of Justice, where she defended the legality of Kosovo's independence.[13]

As part of her parliamentary duties, Osmani served as the chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Diaspora and Strategic Investments and the Committee on European Integration. She also served as the vice-chair of the Committee on Constitutional Reforms in Kosovo.[10] In 2014, Osmani clashed with LDK leadership, including party leader Isa Mustafa, when she criticized the LDK for forming a coalition government with its long-time rival party, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), breaking a previously made pledge.[14][15] Osmani also boycotted the presidential election in 2016, in which PDK leader Hashim Thaçi was elected president as part of the coalition agreement.[14][16]

Osmani was viewed as a possible prime minister of Kosovo by the LDK in the 2019 snap parliamentary election.[13][17] While campaigning for the election, she said the Kosovan people were ready for a female prime minister, and that she could fight corruption and make free market reforms for Kosovo.[18][19] She lost the election to Albin Kurti, leader of the left-wing anti-establishment party Vetëvendosje, and had received 176,016 votes.[20]

On 20 June 2020, Osmani was removed from her position as her party's deputy leader, after LDK leader Mustafa called for her dismissal due to her public opposition of decisions made by the party.[15][21] Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti replaced her as LDK deputy leader.[15] Osmani later quit the LDK altogether on 7 September 2020, stating that the party had left her no choice, but adding that she would return if the party were reformed.[22][23]

2021–present: Presidency

[edit]
See also: 2021 Kosovan presidential election
Further information: List of international presidential trips made by Vjosa Osmani

In 2020, Osmani was appointed acting president of Kosovo after President Thaçi resigned following an indictment by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor's Office in The Hague.[24]

In preparation for the 2021 Kosovan parliamentary election, Osmani announced the founding of her own political party, Guxo, on 2 January 2021.[25] She also aligned with Kurti's Vetëvendosje party. Running on an anti-corruption platform, both parties scored landslide victories, and Osmani personally received more than 300,000 votes.[24] The election also gave women a third of the 120-seat parliament and an unprecedented six positions out of fifteen in the cabinet.[24]

In contrast, the LDK, Osmani's former party, did very poorly in the elections, as predicted by LDK members who had publicly criticized the earlier ouster of Osmani in 2020.[26][15][27] The LDK lost roughly half of its seats in parliament, and party leader Mustafa resigned on 14 March.[28][29][30][31]

Osmani with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (center) and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti (right) in 2022

On 4 April 2021, the assembly elected Osmani as Kosovo's president during its third round of voting.[32][8] Although the vote was unattended by two opposition parties as well as a party representing the ethnic Serb minority in Kosovo, 82 members of the 120-seat parliament cast their votes during the second day of the extraordinary session.[33][24][a] She won 71 of the votes, while 11 votes were declared invalid, and was subsequently sworn in for a five-year term later that day, becoming Kosovo's second female president.[33][8] Osmani said that she hoped to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia, while also calling for Belgrade to apologize for the war that led to Kosovo's declaration of independence and to prosecute those who had committed war crimes.[32][33]

Osmani with Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski in Skopje, on 26 April 2023

Before taking the oath of office, Osmani resigned from the leadership of Guxo.[36][37][b] Newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Donika Gërvalla replaced her as Guxo's head.[39]

Personal life

[edit]

In 2012, Osmani married Prindon Sadriu, an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[3] They have twin daughters.[24] Osmani speaks Albanian, English, Serbian, Spanish, and Turkish.[1]

Honours and accolades

[edit]

During Osmani's master's studies at the University of Pittsburgh, the university presented her with the Excellence for the Future Award twice.[1] In 2017, the University of Pittsburgh Center for International Studies awarded her the Sheth International Young Alumni Achievement Award for her contribution to democracy and human rights.[10][13]

On 28 February 2022, Osmani was awarded a Honoris Causa from Ankara University.[40]

On 21 August 2024, Osmani was honored with the M100 Media Award by M100 Sanssouci Colloquium.[41]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Boycotting the vote were opposition parties PDK and Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), as well as Serb minority party Serb List.[34] It was also reported that one or two members of the aforementioned parties may not have adhered to the boycott.[35]
  2. ^ The Constitution of Kosovo precludes the president from acting as an official of any political party.[38]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Vjosa Osmani is elected President of Kosovo". Class (Albania). Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  2. ^ "A po largohet Vjosa Osmani nga LDK-ja? Kjo është deklarata e saj" [Is Vjosa Osmani leaving the LDK? This is her statement]. Kanal10 (in Albanian). 7 September 2020. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Prindon Sadriu: Në MPJ jam punësuar para se të martohesha me Vjosa Osmanin" [Prindon Sadriu: I was employed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before I married Vjosa Osmani]. Gazeta Express (in Albanian). 27 November 2018. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Pitt Law Alumna Vjosa Osmani Nominated by LDK as candidate for prime minister of Kosovo | School of Law | University of Pittsburgh". www.law.pitt.edu. Archived from the original on 8 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Kurti kandidat i VV-së për kryeministër, Osmani për presidente". Koha Ditore (in Albanian). 14 January 2021. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Kosovo MPs elect lawyer Vjosa Osmani as president". Deutsche Welle. 4 April 2021. Archived from the original on 6 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Callaghan, Louise (9 January 2021). "Shaped by Kosovo's war, Vjosa Osmani won't blink in her battle to cut out the rot". The Times. Archived from the original on 31 March 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  8. ^ a b c Sulaj, Agim; Abdula, Furkan (4 April 2021). "Kosovo's parliament elects Vjosa Osmani as president". Anadolu. Archived from the original on 4 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d "CV". juridiku.uni-pr.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Vjosa Osmani | University Center for International Studies". www.ucis.pitt.edu. Archived from the original on 5 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  11. ^ a b "TREATY APPLICATION IN KOSOVO THROUGH RULES OF SUCCESSION AND AS DOMESTIC LAW: THE EXAMPLE OF THE CISG" (PDF). d-scholarship.pitt.edu. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Universiteti i Prishtinës". archive.ph. 8 April 2021. Archived from the original on 8 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  13. ^ a b c "Vjosa Osmani, femra e parë si kandidate për kryeministre, e diplomuar në SHBA". Vlora News (in Albanian). 25 August 2019. Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  14. ^ a b "Winners and losers as new era of Kosovar politics dawns - Kosovo 2.0Kosovo 2.0". Kosovo 2.0. 8 October 2019. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  15. ^ a b c d "LDK remove Vjosa Osmani from party leadership". 20 June 2020. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  16. ^ "Hashim Thaci elected Kosovo's new president amid tear gas - BBC News". archive.ph. 27 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 February 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Vjosa Osmani, the woman taking on Kosovo's 'nasty' politics to be PM". www.msn.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  18. ^ "Kosovo to Elect New Parliament Amid Anger Over Graft, Unemployment". Voice of America. Reuters. 1 October 2019. Archived from the original on 2 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  19. ^ Zivanovic, Maja; Isufi, Perparim (7 October 2019). "Opposition Vetevendosje Party Triumphs in Kosovo Election". Balkan Insight. Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  20. ^ "Këto janë subjektet politike që mund t'i votoni më 6 tetor - Gazeta Express - www.gazetaexpress.com". 6 October 2019. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  21. ^ "UPDATE: Kosovo's Ruling Party Votes to Remove Speaker of Parliament V..." archive.ph. 20 July 2020. Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  22. ^ "Osmani përfundimisht ndan rrugët me LDK-në: Bashkëpunimin me LVV-në ..." archive.ph. 9 April 2021. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  23. ^ "Vjosa Osmani: Në LDK do të kthehesha nëse reformohet - Indeksonline.n..." archive.ph. 9 April 2021. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  24. ^ a b c d e "Kosovo parliament elects reformist lawyer Osmani as president". Daily Sabah. 4 April 2021. Archived from the original on 4 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  25. ^ "Albanian Daily News". archive.ph. 8 April 2021. Archived from the original on 8 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  26. ^ "LDK leader Isa Mustafa steps down following electoral defeat". archive.ph. 5 March 2021. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  27. ^ "Deputeti i LDK-së thotë se ka votuar kundër shkarkimit të Vjosa Osman..." archive.ph. 3 August 2020. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  28. ^ "REZULTATET PËRFUNDIMTARE KONAČNI REZULTATI" (PDF). www.kqz-ks.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  29. ^ "Kosovo | Center for Strategic and International Studies". archive.ph. 9 April 2021. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  30. ^ "Isa Mustafa resigns as LDK leader - Prishtina Insight". archive.ph. 15 February 2021. Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  31. ^ "Kosovo Opposition LDK Elects Lumir Abdixhiku as Party President - Exi..." archive.ph. 14 March 2021. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  32. ^ a b "Kosovo MPs elect lawyer Vjosa Osmani as president". Deutsche Welle. 4 April 2021. Archived from the original on 6 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  33. ^ a b c "Kosovo parliament elects Vjosa Osmani as new president". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 6 April 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  34. ^ "Kosovo MP Faced with Protest over Sexist Language against President". 6 April 2021. Archived from the original on 6 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  35. ^ "Vjosa Osmani elected Kosovo President". 4 April 2021. Archived from the original on 4 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  36. ^ "Para se të jepte betimin si presidente, Vjosa Osmani dha dorëheqje ng..." archive.ph. 6 April 2021. Archived from the original on 6 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  37. ^ "Pas dorëheqjes së Vjosa Osmanit, Donika Gërvalla e drejton iniciativë..." archive.ph. 6 April 2021. Archived from the original on 6 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  38. ^ "Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo" (PDF). www.kryeministri-ks.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  39. ^ "Donika Gervalla: 'We are not an experiment, we are a sovereign state..." archive.ph. 6 April 2021. Archived from the original on 6 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  40. ^ "President Osmani was honoured with the "Doctor Honoris Causa" award by the prestigious Ankara University". President of the Republic of Kosovo. 28 February 2022. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  41. ^ "VM100 Media Award to Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu and Donald Tusk". M100 Sanssouci Colloquium (Press release). Potsdam Media International. 21 August 2024. Archived from the original on 3 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
Political offices
Preceded by Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo
2020–2021 		Succeeded by
Avni Dehari
Acting
Preceded by President of Kosovo
Acting
2020–2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of Kosovo
2021–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
New political party Leader of Guxo
2021 		Succeeded by
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