Kosovo has entered decisive days for the election of the president, while Prime Minister Albin Kurti has called on political parties to reach a new agreement. The constitutional deadline for completing this process expires on October 6.
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According to the Constitutional Court’s decision, the 60-day period for electing the president began on August 8. If the Assembly does not elect the head of state within this deadline, the Constitution provides for the dissolution of the Assembly and the holding of new elections.
Kurti has said that parties must return to the dialogue table to find a solution within the Assembly, thus avoiding another electoral process over an issue that, according to him, can be resolved through political agreement.
“Ahead of us, besides today, we have six full days to give the country a new president,” the prime minister said.
He assessed that there is still a possibility of reaching an agreement and electing the president, which would avoid new elections.
“Besides reaching a new agreement, the election of the president is also possible. Consequently, repeated, unnecessary and costly elections are nonetheless avoidable,” Kurti declared.
The head of government has asked political parties to sit together and discuss a common solution.
“Therefore, let us sit together, because new elections would again not be elections for president. They, in addition to being without an Assembly, would once again, this time, also leave us with uncertainty over the exercise of the president’s duties, and the government would remain in office,” he said.
However, it remains unclear whether the opposition will respond to this invitation, whether the parties can find a compromise within a few days, and what conditions would be sufficient to secure the necessary votes.
Professor Nijazi Halili and Guxo member Agim Rexhepi commented on the situation for “Bota sot”.
Nijazi Halili: The agreement must guarantee the functioning of institutions
Professor Nijazi Halili considers the situation an important point for Kosovo’s institutions. According to him, setting October 6 as the constitutional deadline has significantly narrowed the space for political calculations.
Halili says the call for a new agreement should be taken seriously by all parliamentary parties. However, he stresses that a deal among leaders would not be enough if it did not produce consensus in the Assembly and if it were not in accordance with the Constitution.
“Kosovo is facing an important institutional moment. After setting October 6 as the constitutional deadline for electing the president, the space for political calculations has narrowed significantly. The call for a new political agreement is an opportunity that must be taken seriously by all parliamentary entities. However, a sustainable agreement cannot be simply a deal between party leaders; it must produce sufficient consensus in the Assembly and fully respect the Constitution,” Halili told “Bota sot.”
He assesses that the remaining time is short, but not necessarily insufficient for an agreement, if political will exists.
“Under these circumstances, six days are few, but they are not necessarily insufficient. If political will exists, intensive dialogue can produce a compromise. The main obstacle is not only finding a name for the president, but securing the votes and building an understanding that does not remain hostage to disagreements within or between political entities. The experience of the previous agreement on Bekim Sejdiu’s candidacy proves this problem,” he said.
According to Halili, any new agreement must be based on respect for the Constitution, political transparency and guaranteeing the functioning of institutions.
“A new agreement must contain three basic elements: respect for the Constitution, political transparency and a guarantee for the functionality of institutions. The candidate for president must be able to secure support beyond a single political grouping and be seen as a representative of the state institution, not only of a political force,” the professor stressed.
He called on leaders and lawmakers to immediately start a dialogue and avoid demands that make compromise impossible.
“My appeal is direct: all political entities must sit down immediately at the dialogue table, without conditions that make compromise impossible. At this stage, responsibility belongs not only to the majority or only to the opposition, but to all lawmakers and political leaders. The Assembly cannot remain hostage to party calculations,” Halili declared.
The professor believes that new elections can be avoided if a constitutional agreement is reached and the necessary votes are secured in the Assembly.
“If the parties reach a constitutional compromise and secure the necessary votes, new elections can be avoided. Otherwise, the failure to elect the president within the deadline set by the Constitution creates the institutional consequences provided for by it, including the dissolution of the Assembly and a new electoral process,” he said.
Halili concludes his position with the assessment that parties should focus on the solution and not on political clashes.
“Therefore, today is not the time to look for new culprits, but to look for institutional solutions. Kosovo needs political responsibility, dialogue and compromise. The Republic’s institutions must not be held hostage by party clashes. If political will exists, a solution is still possible; if that will is missing, the cost will be another cycle of institutional uncertainty,” Nijazi Halili concluded for “Bota sot.”
Agim Rexhepi: What is needed now is responsibility and not another round of elections
Guxo member Agim Rexhepi describes the situation as another decisive moment for Kosovo. According to him, overcoming the deadlock is the responsibility of all political actors.
“Kosovo is again facing a decisive moment. The constitutional deadline for electing the president ends on October 6 and, if the Assembly fails to fulfill this responsibility, the country could enter another electoral process,” Rexhepi said in a statement to “Bota sot.”
He assesses that Kurti’s proposal for a new agreement should be seen as an effort to prevent another institutional crisis and not as a request for partisan gain.
“In this situation, Albin Kurti’s call for a new political agreement should not be interpreted as a demand for party privilege, but as a demand to unblock a situation that threatens to produce yet another institutional crisis,” he said.
Rexhepi recalled that the previous agreement on Bekim Sejdiu’s candidacy also failed to secure the necessary support in the Assembly. According to him, six LDK lawmakers had declared that they would not vote for that candidacy.
“The question today is not who gains politically from new elections. The question is: who takes responsibility for their consequences? Kurti and the LDK had already reached an agreement on Bekim Sejdiu’s candidacy, but it was not realized after six LDK lawmakers declared that they would not support it. This left the agreement without the necessary number of votes,” Rexhepi declared.
He stresses that the main challenge of a new agreement will be securing the votes and not just political agreement on the candidate’s name.
“A new agreement cannot be an agreement on the division of power, nor an agreement for narrow party interests. It must be an agreement for the functioning of the state: a candidate who can secure the necessary votes, respect for constitutional procedures and a political pledge that Kosovo will not be thrown again into a cycle of blockades and elections,” he stressed.
Rexhepi noted that the main institutions have already been formed and that the election of the president is the last issue to be completed. The new government, led by Albin Kurti, was elected on September 13 with 62 votes.
“Because citizens have already voted. The Assembly has been formed. The government was elected on September 13 with 62 votes. Now the institution that remains to be elected is the president of the Republic,” Rexhepi said.
According to him, the previous agreement proved that an understanding among leaders is not sufficient if it is not accompanied by concrete votes in the Assembly.
“The previous agreement showed exactly this problem: even when political leaders reach an understanding, it is not enough if it does not turn into real votes in the Assembly. Therefore, in these final days, the responsibility lies with all lawmakers. This is not the time for endless conditions. This is not the time for calculations about who comes out better in the next elections. It is time to ask ourselves what Kosovo needs today. If there is a candidate who can get the necessary support, if there is a formula that guarantees institutional functionality and if there is political will for compromise, then the agreement must be made,” he said.
Rexhepi said the last six days should be used for talks and concrete efforts toward compromise.
“Albin Kurti has called for parties to sit down again at the table. Now the ball is with all political actors. Therefore, the last six days must not be used for accusations, but for solutions. Kosovo needs institutions, not another cycle of blockade. It needs responsibility, not calculations. And if there is a possibility for agreement, it must be used. Because the state must be bigger than the interest of any political party,” Agim Rexhepi concluded for “Bota sot.”
