Democratic Party of Kosovo MP Mërgim Lushtaku has not ruled out running for party leader, although he is currently leaning toward staying out of the race.
Speaking on KosovaPress’s “Interview of the Week” program, he said citizens and fellow party members had urged him to run, but he had not yet made a final decision. Before deciding, he said, he would consult friends and people close to him.
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Lushtaku said anyone involved in politics should have ambitions, including the ambition to lead the party. He welcomed the fact that PDK members had already announced their candidacies, while saying that he himself had given neither a positive nor a negative answer.
The MP called for broader reform of the PDK and a change in how its leader is elected. He said he had proposed giving every member a vote in the process, adding that the party leader’s authority should be strengthened.
Asked whether his father, Sami Lushtaku, might run for leader, the MP said his father had public standing that extended beyond the PDK. He cited Sami Lushtaku’s role as one of the founders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), alongside Adem Jashari and others.
According to Mërgim Lushtaku, claims that Sami Lushtaku had wielded more influence than the party leader himself were untrue. He said his father had proudly stood alongside Hashim Thaçi and had supported every PDK leader when help was needed during elections. If Sami Lushtaku wanted to lead the party, he added, he would enter the race.
The MP also said political opponents had tried to draw attention to Sami Lushtaku for their own purposes and portray him negatively. He said his father had faced indictments but had been found innocent in every court proceeding.
The PDK announced internal elections following the resignation of former leader Bedri Hamza. Vlora Çitaku is currently serving as the party’s acting leader.
