Hoti: US gas project should be a cause worth taking to the streets

Avdullah Hoti, a member of the LDK presidency and former Prime Minister, has criticised the Kosovo government over the American gas project and the country's energy policies. In a public statement, Hoti raised three questions which he described as fundamental for Kosovo's citizens and its political class. He asked why Prime Minister Albin Kurti rejected the US gas project at a time when other countries in the region are joining the strategic initiative, why no new energy capacity has been built during six years of government, and who stands to benefit from keeping Kosovo dependent on energy imports. Hoti argued that the gas project is not merely an economic matter, but is directly linked to Kosovo's geopolitical orientation, its energy security and its relations with the United States of America. He also criticised the opposition, noting that this issue tends to surface only during election campaigns, and added that causes of this nature should be at the heart of political engagement. According to Hoti, other legitimate grounds for democratic protest have included Kosovo's suspension from the "Defender Europe 23" military exercise in 2023, as well as the suspension of the Kosovo–US strategic dialogue in September 2025. In conclusion, he argued that the result of the most recent elections reflects what he described as an absence of visionary policy, national purpose and political courage.