Political Leaders: Kosovo

Leaders of Kosovo

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Look for biographies of the leaders (in Spanish) at CIDOB website.

Albanian parties and organizations: AAK: Alliance for the Future of Kosovo - AKR: New Kosovo Alliance - Guxo: To Dare - LDK: Democratic League of Kosovo - NISMA: Initiative for Kosovo - PDK: Democratic Party of Kosovo (formerly PPDK, Party for the Democratic Progress of Kosovo) - PPK: Parliamentary Party of Kosovo - PSD: Social Democratic Party - PSHDK: Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo - UÇK: Kosovo Liberation Army (disbanded) - VV: Vetëvendosje

Serbian parties: SPS: Socialist Party of Serbia - DS: Democratic Party - SNS: Serbian Progressive Party - SPO: Serbian Renewal Movement

Republic of Kosovo

Self-proclaimed on 7 Sep 1990; independence declared unilaterally on 19 Oct 1991 and again on 17 Feb 2008, gaining partial international recognition; full sovereignty granted by the International Steering Group for Kosovo on 10 Sep 2012, but with no UN membership.

Presidents
Ibrahim Rugova   24 May 1992 -  1 Feb 2000 (†2006) LDK
Ibrahim Rugova    4 Mar 2002 - 21 Jan 2006 (†2006) LDK
Nexhat Daci      21 Jan 2006 - 10 Feb 2006 (†2026) LDK (acting)
Fatmir Sejdiu    10 Feb 2006 - 27 Sep 2010         LDK
Jakup Krasniqi   27 Sep 2010 - 22 Feb 2011         PDK (acting)
Behgjet Pacolli  22 Feb 2011 - 30 Mar 2011         AKR
Jakup Krasniqi   30 Mar 2011 -  7 Apr 2011         PDK (acting)
Atifete Jahjaga   7 Apr 2011 -  7 Apr 2016         n/p
Hashim Thaçi      7 Apr 2016 -  5 Nov 2020         PDK 
Vjosa Osmani      5 Nov 2020 - 22 Mar 2021         LDK, Guxo (acting)
Glauk Konjufca   22 Mar 2021 -  4 Apr 2021         VV (acting)
Vjosa Osmani      4 Apr 2021 -                     Guxo, n/p 
                              
Prime ministers 
Jusuf Zejnullahu 15 Jul 1990 -  5 Oct 1991         LDK
Bujar Bukoshi     5 Oct 1991 -  1 Feb 2000 (†2025) LDK
Bajram Rexhepi    4 Mar 2002 -  3 Dec 2004 (†2017) PDK 
Ramush Haradinaj  3 Dec 2004 -  8 Mar 2005         AAK
Adem Salihaj      8 Mar 2005 - 23 Mar 2005         LDK (acting)
Bajram Kosumi    23 Mar 2005 - 10 Mar 2006         PPK
Agim Çeku        10 Mar 2006 -  9 Jan 2008         n/p
Hashim Thaçi      9 Jan 2008 -  9 Dec 2014         PDK
Isa Mustafa       9 Dec 2014 -  9 Sep 2017         LDK
Ramush Haradinaj  9 Sep 2017 -  3 Feb 2020         AAK
Albin Kurti       3 Feb 2020 -  3 Jun 2020         VV
Avdullah Hoti     3 Jun 2020 - 22 Mar 2021         LDK
Albin Kurti      22 Mar 2021 -                     VV

Prime minister of the "Provisional Government" (alternative)
Hashim Thaçi      2 Apr 1999 -  1 Feb 2000         UÇK/PPDK

Speakers of the Assembly
Nexhat Daci      10 Dec 2001 - 10 Mar 2006 (†2026) LDK
Kolë Berisha     10 Mar 2006 -  9 Jan 2008 (†2021) LDK
Jakup Krasniqi    9 Jan 2008 - 17 Jul 2014         PDK, NISMA
Isa Mustafa      17 Jul 2014 - 21 Aug 2014         LDK
Kadri Veseli      8 Dec 2014 - 29 Jun 2017         PDK 
Adem Mikullovci  29 Jun 2017 -  7 Sep 2017         VV (acting) 
Kadri Veseli      7 Sep 2017 - 27 Nov 2019         PDK
Jahja Kokaj      27 Nov 2019 - 26 Dec 2019         VV (acting)
Glauk Konjufca   26 Dec 2019 –  3 Feb 2020         VV
Vjosa Osmani      3 Feb 2020 - 22 Mar 2021         LDK, Guxo
Glauk Konjufca   22 Mar 2021 - 15 Apr 2025         VV 
Avni Dehari      15 Apr 2025 - 26 Aug 2025         VV (acting)
Dimal Basha      26 Aug 2025 -                     VV

Ministers of Foreign Affairs
Skënder Hyseni   15 Jun 2008 - 18 Oct 2010         LDK
Vlora Çitaku     18 Oct 2010 - 22 Feb 2011         PDK
Enver Hoxhaj     22 Feb 2011 -  9 Dec 2014         PDK
Hashim Thaçi      9 Dec 2014 -  7 Apr 2016         PDK
Petrit Selimi     7 Apr 2016 -  2 Jun 2016         PDK
Enver Hoxhaj      2 Jun 2016 - 10 Aug 2017         PDK
Emanuel Demaj    10 Aug 2017 -  9 Sep 2017         PSHDK (acting)
Behgjet Pacolli   9 Sep 2017 -  3 Feb 2020         AKR
Glauk Konjufca    3 Feb 2020 -  3 Jun 2020         VV
Meliza Haradinaj  3 Jun 2020 -  9 Mar 2021         AAK
Besnik Tahiri     9 Mar 2021 - 22 Mar 2021         AAK (acting)
Donika Gërvalla  22 Mar 2021 - 11 Feb 2026         Guxo
Glauk Konjufca   11 Feb 2026 -                     VV

Ministers of Internal Affairs
Zenun Pajaziti    9 Jan 2008 -  1 Apr 2010         PDK
Bajram Rexhepi    1 Apr 2010 -  9 Dec 2014 (†2017) PDK
Skënder Hyseni    9 Dec 2014 -  9 Sep 2017         LDK
Flamur Sefaj      9 Sep 2017 - 13 Apr 2018         AKR
Bejtush Gashi    13 Apr 2018 -  1 Oct 2018         AKR
Ekrem Mustafa     1 Oct 2018 -  3 Feb 2020         AKR
Agim Veliu        3 Feb 2020 - 18 Mar 2020         LDK
Xhelal Sveçla    18 Mar 2020 -  3 Jun 2020         VV (acting)
Agim Veliu        3 Jun 2020 - 22 Mar 2021         LDK
Xhelal Sveçla    22 Mar 2021 -                     VV 

Ministers of the Kosovo Security Force/Defence
Fehmi Mujota     21 Jan 2009 - 22 Feb 2011         PDK
Agim Çeku        22 Feb 2011 -  9 Dec 2014         PSD
Haki Demolli      9 Dec 2014 -  9 Sep 2017         LDK
Rrustem Berisha   9 Sep 2017 -  3 Feb 2020         AAK
Anton Quni        3 Feb 2020 - 22 Mar 2021         LDK
Armend Mehaj     22 Mar 2021 -  8 Aug 2023         n/p
Ejup Maqedonci    8 Aug 2023 -                     n/p

Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija (under Yugoslav/Serbian authority)

Provincial Coordinator
Momcilo Trajkovic     11 Apr 1990 -        1991         SPS

Mayors of Pristina
Zivojin Mitrovic             1991 -        1992         SPS (acting)
Novica Sojevic               1992 -        1992         SPS (acting)

Prefects of Kosovo district
Milos Simovic                1992 -        1994         SPS
Aleksa Jokic                 1994 -        1996         SPS
Milos Nesovic                1996 -        1998         SPS
Veljko Odalovic              1998 -        1999         SPS
Andreja Milosavljevic        1999 -        2000         SPS
Veljko Odalovic              2000 -        2001         SPS
Jovica Filipovic      12 Apr 2001 -  6 Dic 2001         SPS
Dragan Velic           6 Dic 2001 - 28 Sep 2004         SPS     
Srdjan Vasic          28 Sep 2004 -  8 Dec 2007         SPS
Goran Arsic           13 Dec 2007 -  4 Feb 2013         DS
Vladeta Kostic         4 Feb 2013 - 30 May 2014         SNS         
Srdjan Petkovic       30 May 2014 - 18 Nov 2021 
Srdjan Popovic        18 Nov 2021 -                           

Chairman of the Temporary Executive Council (PIV)
Zoran Andjelkovic     28 Sep 1998 -  7 Mar 2002         SPS

Serbian National Council of Kosovo and Metohija (SNV KiM) (self-proclaimed, ethnic Serb)

Presidents of the Council
Bishop Artemije       24 Oct 1999 -  3 Mar 2004         n/p 
Rada Trajkovic         3 Mar 2004 -  3 Sep 2006  
Dragan Velic           3 Sep 2006 -        2013         SPS
Nenad Kojic                  2023 -        2024
Momir Stojanovic             2024 -  
  
Presidents of the Executive Committee
Momcilo Trajkovic     24 Oct 1999 - 18 Jul 2000         SPO 
Dusan Ristic          18 Jul 2000 - 20 Jan 2002 (†2002) 
Dragan Velic                 2002 -  3 Sep 2006         SPS
Rada Trajkovic         3 Sep 2006 -

International occupation, administration and representation (de facto protectorate to the second proclamation of independence in 2008)


Military Commanders of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR)
Michael Jackson          12 Jun 1999 -  8 Oct 1999         (UK)    
Klaus Reinhardt           8 Oct 1999 - 18 Apr 2000 (†2021) (Germany) 
Juan Ortuño Such         18 Apr 2000 - 16 Oct 2000         (Spain, Eurocorps)            
Carlo Cabigiosu          16 Oct 2000 -  6 Apr 2001         (Italy) 
Thorstein Skiaker         6 Apr 2001 -  3 Oct 2001         (Norway)
Marcel M. Valentin        3 Oct 2001 -  4 Oct 2002         (France)
Fabio Mini                4 Oct 2002 -  3 Oct 2003         (Italy)
Holger Kammerhoff         3 Oct 2003 -  1 Sep 2004         (Germany)
Yves de Kermabon          1 Sep 2004 -  1 Sep 2005         (France)  
Giuseppe Valotto          1 Sep 2005 -  1 Sep 2006         (Italy)
Roland Kather             1 Sep 2006 - 31 Aug 2007         (Germany)
Xavier Bout de Marnhac   31 Aug 2007 - 29 Aug 2008         (France)
Giuseppe Emilio Gay      29 Aug 2008 -  8 Sep 2009         (Italy)
Markus Bentler            8 Sep 2009 -  1 Sep 2010         (Germany)
Erhard Bühler             1 Sep 2010 -  9 Sep 2011         (Germany)
Erhard Drews              9 Sep 2011 -  7 Sep 2012         (Germany)
Volker Halbauer           7 Sep 2012 -  6 Sep 2013         (Germany)
Salvatore Farina          6 Sep 2013 -  3 Sep 2014         (Italy)
Francesco Paolo Figliuolo 3 Sep 2014 -  7 Aug 2015         (Italy)
Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta 7 Aug 2015 -  1 Sep 2016         (Italy)
Giovanni Fungo            1 Sep 2016 - 15 Nov 2017         (Italy)
Salvatore Cuoci          15 Nov 2017 - 28 Nov 2018         (Italy)
Lorenzo D'Addario        28 Nov 2018 - 19 Nov 2019         (Italy)
Michele Risi             19 Nov 2019 - 13 Nov 2020         (Italy)
Franco Federici          13 Nov 2020 - 15 Oct 2021         (Italy)
Ferenc Kajári            15 Oct 2021 - 14 Oct 2022         (Hungary)
Angelo Michele Ristuccia 14 Oct 2022 - 10 Oct 2023         (Italy)
Özkan Ulutas             10 Oct 2023 - 10 Oct 2024         (Turkey)
Enrico Barduani          10 Oct 2024 -  3 Oct 2025         (Italy)
Özkan Ulutas              3 Oct 2025 -                     (Turkey)


Heads of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and chairmen of the Interim Administrative Council (IAC, 2000-2002) (*)
Sérgio Vieira de Mello   11 Jun 1999 - 14 Jul 1999 (†2003) (Brazil)
Bernard Kouchner         15 Jul 1999 - 12 Jan 2001         (France)
Hans Hækkerup            13 Jan 2001 - 31 Dec 2001         (Denmark)    
Charles H. Brayshaw       1 Jan 2002 - 14 Feb 2002         (United States, acting)
Michael Steiner          14 Feb 2002 -  8 Jul 2003         (Germany)        
Charles H. Brayshaw       8 Jul 2003 - 25 Aug 2003         (United States, acting)
Harri Holkeri            25 Aug 2003 - 11 Jun 2004         (Finland)
Charles H. Brayshaw      11 Jun 2004 - 16 Aug 2004         (United States, acting)
Søren Jessen-Petersen    16 Aug 2004 - 30 Jun 2006         (Denmark)
Steven P. Schook         30 Jun 2006 -  1 Sep 2006         (United States, acting)
Joachim Rücker            1 Sep 2006 - 20 Jun 2008         (Germany)  
Lamberto Zannier         20 Jun 2008 -  1 Jul 2011         (Italy)   
Robert E. Sorenson        1 Jul 2011 -  1 Aug 2011         (United States, acting)
Farid Zarif               1 Aug 2011 - 29 Aug 2015         (Afghanistan)
Simona-Mirela Miculescu  29 Aug 2015 -  5 Oct 2015         (Romania, acting)
Zahir Tanin               5 Oct 2015 -  4 Nov 2021         (Afghanistan)
Barrie Lynne Freeman      4 Nov 2021 - 17 Jan 2022         (United States, acting)
Caroline Ziadeh          17 Jan 2022 - 31 Aug 2025         (Lebanon)
Milbert Dongjoon Shin    31 Aug 2025 - 13 Nov 2025         (United States, acting)
Peter Nicolaisen Due     13 Nov 2025 -                     (Denmark)

International Civilian Representative for Kosovo (ICR)
Pieter Feith              4 Feb 2008 - 10 Sep 2012         (Netherlands)

European Union Special Representatives for Kosovo (EUSR)
Pieter Feith              4 Feb 2008 -  1 May 2011         (Netherlands)
Fernando Gentilini        1 May 2011 -  1 Feb 2012         (Italy)
Samuel Zbogar             1 Feb 2012 -  1 Sep 2016         (Slovenia)
Nataliya Apostolova       1 Sep 2016 -  1 Sep 2020         (Bulgaria)
Tomás Szunyog             1 Sep 2020 -  1 Sep 2024         (Czech Republic)
Aivo Orav                 1 Sep 2024 -                     (Estonia)
   
Heads of European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX Kosovo)
Yves de Kermabon         16 Feb 2008 - 15 Oct 2010         (France)
Xavier Bout de Marnhac   15 Oct 2010 -  1 Feb 2013         (France)
Bernd Borchardt           1 Feb 2013 - 15 Oct 2014         (Germany)
Gabriele Meucci          15 Oct 2014 -  1 Sep 2016         (Italy) 
Alexandra Papadopoulou    1 Sep 2016 - 29 Nov 2019         (Greece)
Lars-Gunnar Wigemark     29 Nov 2019 - 26 Jun 2023         (Sweden)
Giovanni Pietro Barbano  26 Jun 2023 -                     (Italy)

(*) The Interim Administrative Council (IAC), executive board of the Joint Interim Administrative Structure (JIAS) agreed on 15 Dec 1999, was effectively installed on 1 Feb 2000 as the single ruling body in Kosovo with recognition of all parallel and unofficial Albanian institutions, which were temporally disabled. On 4 Mar 2002 the elected Albanian institutions, Presidency, Government and Assembly, were installed, marking the end of JIAS/IAC structure.

Leadership of main Albanian parties and organizations

 Chairmen of LDK
Ibrahim Rugova    1989-2005 (†2006) 
Fatmir Sejdiu     2006-2010
Isa Mustafa       2010-2021
Lumir Abdixhiku   2021-
  
 LDK was founded on 23 Dec 1989.

 Political leaders of UÇK 
Adem Demaçi       1998-1999 (†2018)     
Hashim Thaçi      1999      

 Military leaders of UÇK 
Sylejman Selimi   1999
Agim Çeku         1999          

 UÇK was disbanded upon agreements with KFOR and UNMIK on 20 Sep 1999.

 Chairmen of PPDK, PDK
Hashim Thaçi      1999-2016
Kadri Veseli      2016-2020
Enver Hoxhaj      2020-2021
Memli Krasniqi    2021-2025
Bedri Hamza       2025-    

 PPDK, made from the political wing of UÇK, was founded on 14 Oct 1999 and changed its name to PDK on 21 May 2000.

 Chairman of AAK
Ramush Haradinaj  2001-         

 AAK was first born in 2000 as a multy coalition and became properly a party on 29 Apr 2001.

Chairmen of VV
Albin Kurti       2005-2015
Visar Ymeri       2015-2018
Albin Kurti       2018-

Chairmen of Guxo
Vjosa Osmani      2021
Donika Gërvalla   2021-
Faton Peci        2022-

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