Atifete Jahjaga (; born 20 April 1975) is a Kosovar politician who served as President of Kosovo from 2011 to 2016. She is the first woman and the first non-partisan candidate to hold the office and is also the youngest elected president of Kosovo. Prior to her presidency, Jahjaga served as Deputy Director of the Kosovo Police,Koha, "Në krye të Policisë së Kosovës, Atifete Jahjaga" Shqip TIME.mk 16 October 2010 (accessed 6 April 2011) holding the rank of General Lieutenant Colonel, the highest rank achieved by a female officer in Southeastern Europe."Kush do të na udhëheq" Telegrafi.com 7 April 2011 (accessed 7 April 2011)
Early life and education Jahjaga, a Kosovo Albanian, was born in Gjakova, which was then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Her paternal ancestry is from Berisha in northern Albania. She completed her elementary and secondary education in Gjakova and graduated from the University of Pristina with a degree in Law in 2000. In 2006/07, she completed a graduate and certificate program in police management and criminal law at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. Jahjaga also received professional training at the George C. Marshall European Centre for Security Studies in Germany, the FBI National Academy in the United States, and earned a postgraduate certification in Crime Science from the University of Virginia in 2007.
Police career After the Kosovo War, Jahjaga completed the Kosovo Police Academy to become an officer and was gradually promoted through the ranks, initially to major, then colonel, and ultimately to major general.
Jahjaga served as the Deputy Director of the Kosovo Police and briefly held the position of acting General Director in 2010. During her time in the Kosovo Police, she gained attention from American officers and diplomats, who presented her to senior U.S. officials on special occasions as a representative of a new generation of Kosovar civil servants.
President of Kosovo
Following a political crisis in Kosovo, which began with the resignation of President Fatmir Sejdiu and was followed by the Constitutional Court's decision against the election of Behgjet Pacolli as President of Kosovo, Jahjaga was announced on 6 April 2011 as a consensus candidate for the office of President. Her candidacy was supported by the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Democratic League of Kosovo and the New Kosovo Alliance,"Marrëveshja për Kosovën, presidente Atifete Jahjaga" Telegrafi.com 6 April 2011 (accessed 6 April 2011) as well as by the U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Christopher Dell.RadioKosova, Live Broadcast of Press Conference, 6 April 2011 Google News 6 April 2011 (accessed 6 April 2011) Dell urged parliament members to vote in her favor.
Although Jahjaga had a positive reputation as a police commander, she emerged from relative obscurity as a candidate for the highest office in the state, with many public and political figures unaware of her political views. On 7 April 2011, Jahjaga was elected President in the first round of voting by the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo. Of the 100 MPs present, 80 voted in favor of Jahjaga, while 10 voted for Suzan Novoberdali."Atifete Jahjaga zgjidhet presidente e Kosovës"Koha 7 April 2011 (accessed 7 April 2011) She remains the only president to be elected in the first round of voting. Kosovo's first president, Ibrahim Rugova, received more votes, having been appointed by the Parliament in 2002 with an 88-3 vote in the third round of voting.CNN, "Kosovo names key ministers" 4 March 2002 (accessed 10 April 2011)
In her inaugural address, Jahjaga emphasized her primary goal as President: guiding Kosovo on a secure path toward membership in the European Union and the United Nations. She stated, "The ideal of all Kosovo is membership in the EU and a permanent friendship with the United States. I believe and I am convinced our dreams will come true."Ismet Jashari, "Kosovo swears in top woman cop as president" AFP 7 April 2011 (accessed 7 April 2011)
Presidency Country image building
Since taking office in April 2011, President Jahjaga focused on strengthening democratic institutions in Kosovo and worked to enhance the country's international recognition. Her activities included advocating for a European and Euro-Atlantic integration agenda, supporting initiatives for reconciliation and tolerance, promoting regional cooperation, and encouraging foreign investment."Kadare: Jahjaga përmirësoi imazhin e Kosovës në botë" Lajme Shqip 3 September 2013 (accessed 29 September 2013)"Nikolić, Jahjaga, Ashton meet in Brussels" B92 6 February 2013 (accessed 29 September 2013)
During her mandate, she emphasized the implementation of constitutional principles and aimed to expand the role of the presidency in Kosovo’s democratic development. Through participation in international forums and diplomatic visits, she sought to promote Kosovo’s state-building process and increase its visibility in international discussions.
Her leadership approach received positive international attention, and she was recognized for her engagement in promoting political dialogue and institutional development in Kosovo and the Western Balkans.
Constitutional leadership President Jahjaga exercised her constitutional responsibilities by opposing legislation considered inconsistent with European Union standards. According to the European Commission Progress Report, her enforcement of institutional checks and balances was noted as a demonstration of the existing separation of powers in Kosovo."Kosovo Analytical Report 2012" European Commission 23 October 2011 (accessed 29 September 2013)
In 2012, she returned the draft Criminal Code to the Assembly of Kosovo for reconsideration, requesting the removal of provisions related to freedom of expression, such as the criminalization of defamation and articles that required journalists to disclose their sources. These provisions were deemed incompatible with the Constitution of Kosovo and the European Convention on Human Rights.
During the 2013 local and 2014 general elections, she worked with the Central Election Commission and judicial institutions to ensure a transparent electoral process, following irregularities in the 2010 elections. International observers noted improvements in these elections, including the participation of Serb-majority municipalities in the north.
Following the 2014 elections, a political and constitutional impasse delayed the formation of government institutions. In response, Jahjaga held meetings with party leaders to facilitate the formation of a new government. U.S. President Barack Obama commended her efforts during this period.
Subsequently, Jahjaga, in cooperation with key institutional leaders, facilitated agreement on the establishment of the Special Court, as part of international commitments stemming from correspondence with EU High Representative Catherine Ashton.
During her mandate, Jahjaga also established three National Councils to encourage dialogue and participation from civil society, academia, and the business community. She also regularly met with representatives of ethnic communities and marginalized groups.
European integration process Since taking office, President Jahjaga supported Kosovo's efforts toward European Union integration."European Commission: Kosovo Analytical Report 2012" European Commission, 23 October 2011 (accessed 29 September 2013) In March 2012, she inaugurated the National Council for European Integration, a coordination body aimed at building political and institutional consensus on the European agenda through an inclusive and cross-party approach. At its first meeting, President Jahjaga and EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Stefan Füle, launched the Feasibility Study for the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the Republic of Kosovo and the European Union. In 2013, the National Council adopted the first Kosovo National Strategy for European Integration, with participation from various sectors of Kosovar society.
As part of the visa liberalization dialogue with the EU, Jahjaga supported the coordination of institutional efforts to fulfill technical criteria. In early 2015, she advocated for the completion of these requirements by May 2015. Kosovo submitted its final report on the visa liberalization roadmap to the European Commission in June 2015.
In response to the increased migration of Kosovo citizens to Western Europe in early 2015, Jahjaga visited affected municipalities to engage directly with citizens and discuss their concerns. Her engagement in addressing this issue was acknowledged by several European officials, including EU Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, who highlighted her role in facilitating communication and cooperation with citizens during the crisis.
Rule of law
On 14 February 2012, President Jahjaga established the National Anti-Corruption Council, a coordinating body intended to align the work and activities of institutions and independent agencies in the prevention and fight against corruption. The Council includes representatives from various institutions and agencies, functioning as a forum for inter-institutional dialogue. In her role as guarantor of constitutional functioning, Jahjaga advocated for an independent and impartial justice system.
During the appointment process of the State Prosecutor, which involved delays by the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council and a ruling by the Constitutional Court, as well as public debates regarding potential political interference, President Jahjaga followed legal and constitutional procedures in appointing the prosecutor and emphasized transparency throughout the process.
Jahjaga also initiated reforms to the law on pardons by introducing more stringent criteria and procedures for granting clemency to convicted individuals. The updated framework marked a departure from prior practices, which had included pardons for individuals convicted of serious crimes. During her tenure, pardons were granted sparingly, and in 2015, no pardons were issued. These decisions received criticism from some entities, including the Ministry of Justice and prisoner advocacy groups.
Combating Islamic extremism and radicalization
During the political deadlock in 2014, Kosovo faced increasing concerns regarding the involvement of some of its citizens in armed conflicts in the Middle East, as the number of individuals joining extremist groups abroad rose. In response to these developments, President Jahjaga engaged national security institutions to address the issue of violent extremism and radicalization. Coordinated efforts led to the arrest of several individuals suspected of recruiting for extremist groups.
As part of international efforts to counter violent extremism, President Jahjaga was invited to participate in a United Nations Security Council session in September 2014, where a resolution was adopted aimed at strengthening global responses to terrorism and radicalization.
In March 2015, Jahjaga decreed the law prohibiting the participation of Kosovo citizens in foreign armed conflicts, as part of legislative measures intended to curb extremist activities and enhance national security. The law was accompanied by additional preventative measures against radical and extremist activities within Kosovo.
The United States and the European Union acknowledged Kosovo's role in supporting the international coalition against the Islamic State and praised its commitment to addressing violent extremism and terrorism.
Attracting foreign investments President Jahjaga undertook efforts to establish international partnerships and promote Kosovo as a potential destination for foreign investment. She emphasized the importance of cooperation between government institutions and the private sector in improving business practices, with the aim of increasing economic competitiveness and attracting investors.