Justina Pula
Kosovan economist and academic
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Justina Shiroka Pula (born 1953) is a Kosovan economist and academic who has been serving as the first woman President of the Kosova Academy of Sciences and Arts since 2025. She was one of the speculated candidates in the 2026 Kosovan presidential election, and previously served as Minister of Energy and Mining and member of the Assembly of Kosovo.
Justina Pula | |
|---|---|
 Pula in 2011 | |
| President of Kosovo | |
| Assumed office 7 October 2026 | |
| Prime Minister | Albin Kurti |
| Preceded by | Albulena Haxhiu (acting) |
| President of the Kosova Academy of Sciences and Arts | |
| Assumed office 19 December 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Mehmet Kraja |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1953 (age 72–73) Pristina, Yugoslavia |
| Education | University of Pristina University of Zagreb |
Early life
Pula was born in 1953 in Pristina, then Yugoslavia.[1][2] She graduated with a degree in economics from the University of Pristina in 1976, and graduated in the theory and politics of development economics in 1984 from the University of Zagreb.[2][1] In 1977, Pula obtained her PhD from the Faculty of Economics in Pristina with a thesis entitled Demographic Investments and Economic Development of Kosovo.[2]
Career
She began working at the Central Bank of Kosovo after graduating, and has been a lecturer at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Pristina since 1978.[1]
She has spent her professional career in financial and educational institutions, as well as leading various NGOs in the country.[1] Between 2008 and 2011 she served as Minister of Energy and Mining, and between 2011 and 2014 as a member of the Assembly of Kosovo.[1]
In 2016, Pula was elected a corresponding member of the Kosova Academy of Sciences and Arts and, since 2018, has served as secretary of the Social Sciences Section and a member of the board.[1] In 2020, she was elevated to full academic membership of the Academy.[1] On 19 December 2025, Pula was elected president of the Academy by the institution's assembly, becoming the first woman to hold the office.[1]
On 4 March 2026, media outlets reported that the PDK had proposed her as a potential candidate for the 2026 Kosovan presidential election. However, both Pula and PDK leadership denied the claims that same day.[3][4]
Works
- (2013). “Decision-Making Processes” (co-authored with B. Krasniqi), Pristina: Institute of Economic Research, “Globus” (201 pp.): ISBN 978-9951-582-06-3.
- (2007). “Linear Programming Transport Methods”, Pristina: University of Pristina (302 pp.): ISBN 9951-00-044-4 .
- (2006). “Management and Decision-Making” (co-authored with I. Kuka and Krasniqi, B.), Pristina: University of Pristina (399 pp.): ISBN 9951-00-057-6 .