On Thursday, Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz dismissed all politically appointed ambassadors and chiefs of missions.
12 ambassadors were released from their duties—those serving in Germany, Albania, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Australia, Montenegro, United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
The decision was sent to President Vjosa Osmani for approval, as it was confirmed by the deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kreshnik Ahmeti through a Facebook post.
Kosovo’s law on the matter specifies that up to 50% of ambassadors and chiefs of mission can be political appointees. Nevertheless, Kurti’s newly-elected government decided to opt for their swift dismissal following sustained criticism levied against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that many diplomatic mission appointees are family members of politically active figures.
The looming decision had already been criticized by the opposition. PDK’s acting party leader, Enver Hoxhaj, described the proposal as poorly thought and the biggest scandal in the history of Kosovo’s foreign politics.
“[Such decisions] damage Kosovo’s global image… and reverse two decades of diplomatic achievement,” Hoxhaj writes.
The process to appoint new ambassadors will likely take several months, as after being selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and endorsed by the Commission on Foreign Policy of Kosovo’s Parliament and the office of the President, the new ambassadors will also have to be approved by the relevant host country.
