Ardian Gjini (born 18 January 1970) is a politician in Kosovo who has served as president of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) since May 2026. He was a cabinet minister in Kosovo's government from 2005 to 2008, served in the Assembly of Kosovo from 2007 to 2014, and has been the mayor of Gjakova since 2017. Gjini has been a member of the AAK since the party's formation in 2001.
Early life and private career Gjini was born to a Kosovo Albanian family in Gjakova, in what was then the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo in the Socialist Republic of Serbia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. He fought with the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in the Kosovo War.
Gjini holds a master's degree in international studies and European studies from the University of Kent in Canterbury.PROFILI I KRYETARIT: Ardian Gjini , Republic of Kosovo, accessed 7 October 2023.
Politician Early years in local government (1997–2002) Gjini was president of the Gjakova branch of the Albanian National Democratic Party from 1997 to 2001.PROFILI I KRYETARIT: Ardian Gjini , Republic of Kosovo, accessed 7 October 2023. After the end of the Kosovo War in 1999, he became deputy mayor of the city's self-appointed provisional government.
A Christian Science Monitor report from shortly after the war described local authorities in Gjakova as restoring electricity, telephone service, and street lighting to the city, as well as distributing free bread. Gjini was quoted as saying, "After three months of terror, people still feel frustrated and unsafe. [...] Seeing there are phones, streetlights, some local news, bread - they are beginning to feel that they can live here again."Jonathan S. Landay, "Kosovo rising fast from ashes In one town, KLA quickly organizes city services, even before delivery," Christian Science Monitor, 25 June 1999, p. 1. Some, including members the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), expressed concerns about the KLA's ongoing influence over the city government.Donna Bryson, "Djakovica not waiting for help - which could create problems," Associated Press Newswires, 6 July 1999.
Gjini was elected to the Gjakova city assembly in the 2000 Kosovan local elections as one of seven delegates from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (which, in its initial form, was a literal alliance rather than a united party). The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) won a majority victory, and Gjini's term as deputy mayor came to an end.Zgjedhjet për Kuvende Komunale 2000 – Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Rezultatet e subjekteve sipas komunave), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 22 January 2022.ZGJEDHJET PËR KUVENDE KOMUNALE 2000 – Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Kandidatët e zgjedhur sipas subjekteve), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 22 January 2022. He was not a candidate in the 2002 local elections.
Gjini appeared in the twentieth position on the AAK's list for the 2001 Kosovan parliamentary election, which was held under a system of closed list proportional representation.LISTA E KANDIDATËVE PËR ZGJEDHJET PARLAMENTARE 2001 NE KOSOVË, , Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, accessed 21 March 2024. The list won eight seats, and he was not elected.
Party official and assistant to the prime minister (2001–05) Gjini joined the AAK when it became an official party in 2001. In March of that year, he joined party leader Ramush Haradinaj and others on an official delegation to Croatia."Kosovo delegation satisfied with visit to Croatia, talks with senior officials," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European – Political, 19 March 2001 (Source: Kosovapress news agency web site, Pristina, in Albanian 17 Mar 01). After the 2001 Kosovan parliamentary election, he represented the AAK in informal talks with other parties on the formation of a new government."'Secret' meeting in Kosovo discusses formation of new government," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European – Political, 25 November 2001 (Source: Kosovapress news agency web site, Pristina, in Albanian 24 Nov 01).
The AAK participated in Kosovo's coalition government following the 2001 Kosovan parliamentary election, Gjini served as an assistant to Kosovo prime minister Bajram Rexhepi from March 2002 to September 2003.PROFILI I KRYETARIT: Ardian Gjini , Republic of Kosovo, accessed 7 October 2023. In May 2003, he complained that UNMIK had refused to grant Kosovo's government real competency in matters such as the economy, judiciary, police, legislation, and the budget."Analysis: UN nation-building mission in Kosovo moving slowly," NPR: Morning Edition, 19 May 2003.
Gjini appeared in the forty-first position on the AAK's electoral list in the 2004 parliamentary election. The party won nine seats, and he was not elected.ZGJEDHJET PËR KUVENDIN E KOSOVËS 2004 – Fletëvotimi për Zgjedhjet për Kuvend të Kosovës 2004 (Lista e Kandidatëve për Zgjedhjet për Kuvend të Kosovës 2004), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 27 January 2022.Periudha e dytë Legjislative (23.11.2004 - 12.12.2007), Assembly of Kosovo, accessed 2 February 2022. After the election, the LDK and AAK formed a coalition government. Although the AAK was the junior partner in the coalition, Haradinaj was appointed as prime minister in December 2004, and Gjini was named as his chief political advisor.PROFILI I KRYETARIT: Ardian Gjini , Republic of Kosovo, accessed 7 October 2023. Shortly after his appointment, he said the government was planning to open information offices for Kosovo in major international capitals."Kosovo government plans to open information offices in foreign capitals," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 24 December 2004 (Source: KosovaLive web site, Pristina, in English 23 Dec 04), 24 December 2004 (Source: KosovaLive web site, Pristina, in English 23 Dec 04).
Cabinet minister (2005–08) Ramush Haradinaj was indicated by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on war crimes charges in March 2005. He resigned as prime minister and was replaced by Bajram Kosumi, also of the AAK. On 23 March 2005, Gjini was appointed to replace Kosumi as minister of environment and spatial planning."Kosovo premier-designate nominates new ministers," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 23 March 2005 (Source: KosovaLive web site, Pristina, in English 22 Mar 05). In November of the same year, he was also appointed as the AAK's representative on a team negotiating the status of Kosovo at a series of meetings in Vienna with Serbian delegates."Kosovo negotiating team establishes political body for negotiations," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 8 November 2005 (Source: KohaVision TV, Pristina, in Albanian 1800 gmt 8 Nov 05).He was re-confirmed as a member of the committee in February 2006. See "Kosovo negotiating team reappoints delegation to Vienna," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 17 February 2006 (Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 17 Feb 06).
In July 2006, the Vetëvendosje (VV) movement held protests against the Kosovo government's negotiations with Serbia. Gjini defended the administration's strategy, saying, "If they think we are fooling the people they are fooling themselves. [...] If anyone has a better solution than the negotiations they should tell us.""Pro-independence Kosovo groups plan demo against Belgrade-Pristina talks," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 21 July 2006 (Source: KohaVision TV, Pristina, in Albanian 1700 gmt 20 Jul 06).
Gjini also served during this time on a government working group on privatization and the future of the Kosovo Trust Agency."Kosovo minister presents new privatization plan shifting power to government," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 4 May 2005 (Source: KosovaLive web site, Pristina, in English 4 May 05). He visited the United States of America in May 2005 as a guest of the Albanian American Civic League to promote the independence of Kosovo."Bush Administration to Announce New Strategy for the Balkans Albanian American Civic League to Address the House International Relations Committee on the Independence of Kosova," PR Newswire, 17 May 2005 [press release from the Albanian American Civic League]. In January 2006, he indicated that the AAK would support Fatmir Sejdiu, the LDK's candidate for president of Kosovo after the death of Ibrahim Rugova.Shaban Buza, "Under pressure, Kosovo nominates Rugova successor," Reuters News, 30 January 2006.
Parliamentarian (2007–14) First term (2007–10) Kosovo adopted a system of open list proportional representation prior to the 2007 Kosovan parliamentary election. Gjini was given the tenth position on the party's list, finished seventh amongst its candidates, and was elected when the list won ten seats.ZGJEDHJET PËR KUVEND TË REPUBLIKËS SË KOSOVËS 2007 – Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Rezultatet e të gjithë kandidatëve), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, p. 19, accessed 15 January 2022.Periudha e tretë Legjislative (13.12.2007 - 03.11.2010) – Ardian Gjini, Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, accessed 7 October 2023. The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the LDK formed a new coalition government after the election, and the AAK moved into opposition; Gjini's term as a cabinet minister ended in January 2008. He became the leader of the AAK's assembly group and said that his party would support the new government on issues related to the status of Kosovo."Kosovo party pledges not to act as an opposition on state-building issues," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 14 January 2008 (Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 14 Jan 08). The following month, Kosovo's assembly and governing authorities unilaterally declared independence for the territory as the Republic of Kosovo.
Ramush Haradinaj was acquitted of war crimes in April 2008 due to a lack of evidence. Following the verdict, Gjini said, "It was a big mistake to indict him. He is a war hero, not a war criminal, and the greatest living commander in Kosovo. He was also the best prime minister we've seen and made people here believe things could work."Molly Moore, "Kosovo's Ex-Premier Acquitted of War Crimes Against Serbs," Washington Post, 4 April 2008.
UNMIK called for new talks between Serbia and the Republic of Kosovo in August 2008. Gjini encouraged the Republic of Kosovo government to insist that no changes be made to the Ahtisaari Plan."Kosovo officials insist on respecting Ahtisaari plan in arranging police, courts," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 6 August 2008 (Source: Koha Ditore, Pristina, in Albanian 5 Aug 08 pp 1, 3).
Gjini was named as one of four deputy chairpersons of the AAK in December 2008."Kosovo AAK party has new party presidency, four deputy chairmen," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 30 December 2008 (Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 29 Dec 08).
Second term (2011–14)