– The vote of the diaspora must be taken seriously and respected

The people of Kosova and the entire Albanian nation have gone through very difficult times throughout history. Various occupiers, especially predatory neighbors, have forced them to engage in permanent resistance in order to survive. Emigration abroad is one form of this resistance.

In most cases, emigration occurred because of threats to life and pressure from various enemies. Racist, fascist, and hegemonic Serbia has been and remains the number one enemy of the Albanian nation, aiming at the eradication of Albanians. The forced displacement of Albanians and the seizure of their lands is part of all Serbian programs.

Naturally, there are also other reasons for emigration—economic ones, or the desire for a different, perhaps better life. However, the decision to take such a very difficult step is a personal and family matter. Neither emigration nor staying in one’s homeland should be judged by anyone. Of course, our constant wish and goal should be to reduce or stop emigration and enable a possible return to the homeland.

The most important thing is that the Albanian diaspora has never forgotten nor turned its back on its homeland. It has been and continues to be in the service of the nation in every situation and at every moment throughout history. Many leaders of heroic national resistance have emerged from the diaspora. Enemies pursued them, but they did not disappear—they remained engaged in fighting back the enemies.

In democratic countries, the right to vote is tied to citizenship, regardless of where one lives. If citizenship is lost, the right to vote is lost. This never changes.

All political parties are advised to treat the diaspora as a distinct segment with specific interests—independent voters who can more easily be won over through good programs and effective work. Just like an American president analyzes all states and population segments and tries to adapt to them and win them over.

The diaspora’s vote must be taken seriously, respected, and utilized—not ignored or blocked. The elections of December 28 showed that the diaspora is an important factor in winning elections. Prime Minister Albin Kurti, his party LVV, and the coalition understood this in time. This vote helped them achieve an impressive victory, fully deserved.

I and many of my friends are angered by the efforts of the election losers and their media supporters to blame the diaspora for their defeat, to insult and smear it without any reason or restraint. Complaining, blaming, and insulting the Prime Minister and diaspora helps them in no way.

The lowest and most dangerous insult among them is the claim that “PM Kurti is supposedly Montenegrin.” This is a shameless attack on all Albanian lands and the entire Albanian nation.

Equally low and completely untrue is the statement that “the diaspora is uneducated and cowardly, having fled the war and Kosova’s problems.” The diaspora is full of intellectuals from all fields and levels and is very well informed.

The sons and daughters of the diaspora took part in the war, financed the war, and defended the freedom fighters in Washington and everywhere else. Even though the direct fighting was done by the freedom fighters—before whom we must all bow—victory would not have come with them alone, without logistics and broad support.

Furthermore, accusations that the diaspora does not know or experience internal problems such as electricity, hospitals, schools, businesses, social welfare, etc., are also absurd. Migrants have homes and properties for which they pay taxes; they too experience power or heating outages during their short and long stays; they finance their families, the sick, their children’s education as needed, and help open businesses.

Instead of engaging in pointless matters, the election losers would do better to analyze the real causes of their defeat. There are many, but the main ones are corruption during their governance, submission to internationals, surrender to Serbian demands, and the selling of the state. These are the issues the diaspora considers most seriously.

The time has come for the broad membership of PDK and AAK, together with the true freedom fighters, and the Rugova-oriented membership of LDK—those who want what is best for the state and the nation—to pressure their leaders: some to step aside, others to change, and to begin working for the state and nation first, and only then for party and power.

This is the only way if they want to become a strong, constructive opposition and create the possibility of taking power democratically. Some insane demands to reject the elections and overthrow Prime Minister Kurti through street unrest would eliminate them entirely from democratic life. The people of Kosova would reject them, and even worse, they would sever ties with the international factor—especially with our beloved America.

The first test of their change will be the approval of the budget and international loans, but even more important is the continuation of the mandate of the wonderful President, Vjosa Osmani. She, together with Prime Minister Kurti and their teams, have restored our honor and made us proud with their representation in international circles and their confrontation with hegemonic Serbia.

Agim Aliçkaj
Executive Director of the Albanian-American Civic League
January 7, 2026