Vjosa Osmani facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vjosa Osmani
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Official portrait, 2021
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| President of Kosovo | |
| Assumed office 4 April 2021 |
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| Prime Minister | Albin Kurti |
| Preceded by | Glauk Konjufca (acting) |
| Acting 5 November 2020 – 22 March 2021 |
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| Prime Minister | Avdullah Hoti |
| Preceded by | Hashim Thaçi |
| Succeeded by | Glauk Konjufca (acting) |
| Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo | |
| In office 3 February 2020 – 22 March 2021 |
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| President | Hashim Thaçi |
| Preceded by | Glauk Konjufca |
| Succeeded by | Glauk Konjufca |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 May 1982 Titova Mitrovica, SFR Yugoslavia (now Mitrovica, Kosovo) |
| Nationality | Kosovar |
| Political party | Independent (2021–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
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| Spouse |
Prindon Sadriu
(m. 2012) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Pristina University of Pittsburgh (LLM, SJD) |
| Profession | Politician and legal academic |
| Signature | .svg) |
Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu (born on May 17, 1982) is a Kosovan jurist (a legal expert) and politician. She is the current President of Kosovo since 2021. Vjosa Osmani grew up in Titova Mitrovica, which is now part of Kosovo. She studied law at the University of Pristina and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
Before becoming president, Osmani worked as an advisor to Kosovo's president, Fatmir Sejdiu. She was then elected to the Assembly. She served as the Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo from February 2020 to March 2021. She was also the acting president between November 2020 and March 2021 after President Hashim Thaçi resigned. When she was elected president, Osmani became the second woman to hold this important position. She was also the first person to be both acting president and president of Kosovo. Osmani ran for office promising to fight against corruption. She also wants to improve relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Since becoming president, she has brought back the flag of Dardania as the official symbol of the presidency.
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Early Life and Education
Vjosa Osmani was born on May 17, 1982, in Titova Mitrovica. At that time, it was part of Yugoslavia. Her parents were ethnic Albanians. She grew up with four brothers and sisters. She finished her early schooling in her hometown. Osmani was a teenager during the Kosovo War. This was a very difficult time for many people in Kosovo.
Osmani earned her first law degree from the University of Prishtina. She then went on to study at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in the United States. She earned a master's degree in law in 2005. Later, in 2015, she earned a doctorate in law. Her doctorate research was about how international sales laws applied in Kosovo. Osmani has also taught law at the University of Pristina, RIT Kosovo, and the University of Pittsburgh.
Political Journey and Roles
Vjosa Osmani started her political journey as a teenager. She was an activist for the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) party. In 2009, she became the chief of staff for President Fatmir Sejdiu. She also worked as a legal and foreign policy advisor to the president.
Osmani was a member of the Assembly of Kosovo for three terms. She received the most votes ever for a female politician in Kosovo's parliament. She played a role in Kosovo becoming independent. She helped prepare Kosovo's constitution as the president's representative. She also defended Kosovo's independence in a case at the International Court of Justice.
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As a member of parliament, Osmani led the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on European Integration. She also helped lead the Committee on Constitutional Reforms. In 2014, Osmani disagreed with her party's leaders. She criticized the LDK for working with a rival party, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). She also did not take part in the 2016 presidential election.
In 2019, Osmani was considered a possible candidate for Prime Minister of Kosovo. She believed the people of Kosovo were ready for a female prime minister. She promised to fight corruption and improve the economy. She lost the election to Albin Kurti.
In June 2020, Osmani was removed from her role as deputy leader of her party. This happened because she publicly disagreed with some party decisions. She later left the LDK party in September 2020. She said the party left her no choice.
Becoming President in 2021
In 2020, Osmani became the acting president of Kosovo. This happened after President Thaçi resigned.
For the 2021 Kosovan parliamentary election, Osmani started her own political party called Guxo. She also teamed up with Albin Kurti's Vetëvendosje party. They both promised to fight corruption. Their parties won a lot of votes in the election. Osmani herself received over 300,000 votes. This election also led to many women being elected to parliament and holding positions in the government.
Osmani's former party, the LDK, did not do well in the elections. Many LDK members had predicted this after Osmani was removed from her position in 2020. The LDK lost many seats in parliament.
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On April 4, 2021, the assembly elected Osmani as Kosovo's president. She won 71 votes out of 82. She was then sworn in for a five-year term. She became Kosovo's second female president. Osmani has said she hopes to improve relations between Kosovo and Serbia. She also wants Serbia to apologize for the war and to punish those who committed war crimes.
Before taking office, Osmani stepped down as the leader of her Guxo party. Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, who became the Minister of Foreign Affairs, took over as Guxo's head.
Personal Life
In 2012, Vjosa Osmani married Prindon Sadriu. He works for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They have twin daughters. Osmani can speak Albanian, English, Serbian, Spanish, and Turkish.
Awards and Recognition
During her master's studies at the University of Pittsburgh, Osmani received the Excellence for the Future Award twice. In 2017, the University of Pittsburgh gave her an award for her work in democracy and human rights.
In February 2022, Osmani received an honorary degree from Ankara University. In August 2024, she was honored with the M100 Media Award.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2021
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Meeting with former prime minister Isa Mustafa and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green in 2019
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Osmani with Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski in Skopje, on 26 April 2023
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Osmani with Marta Kos in Brussels in December 2024
See also
In Spanish: Vjosa Osmani para niños
