In these elections, the Democratic League of Kosovo ranked third, winning 17.60 percent of the vote and 18 seats, compared with the 15 seats it had in December.
Following this result, LDK MP Avdullah Hoti called for an end to experiments with the party and for it to return to its traditional electoral base.
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According to Hoti, LDK does not belong to any individual.
“There will be no experiments with LDK and its future.
The result has sent a clear message: LDK must return strongly to its traditional electorate, to its values and to the vision that built this party. LDK is no one’s property and cannot be held hostage by personal interests. LDK is greater than any individual; it is a political and historical mission,” Hoti wrote.
In a statement to “Bota sot,” activist Saim Tahiraj said LDK has drifted away from the principles and foundation on which it was built, entering into political experiments that, according to him, have led the party into continuous electoral decline.
He said that the founding and activity of LDK were not tied to personal or clan interests, but to the national interest, while also underlining the historic role of President Ibrahim Rugova and LDK itself on the path toward freedom, independence and stronger ties with the United States and the West.
According to Tahiraj, the development of democracy in Kosovo continues to face obstacles because of entrenched clan interests within political parties.
“I have emphasized several times, at different stages in LDK’s history, and I am repeating it now: LDK has departed from its traditional course. The moment a political entity moves away from the foundations on which it was established and built its identity, it is no longer itself. That is when experiments begin without a stable foundation, copying foreign models that do not fit LDK’s real face.
None of these experiments produced the results expected by the respective leaderships; on the contrary, they continued the path of LDK’s declining electoral strength. LDK was not founded, nor did it carry out its activity, to serve personal or clan interests. It was founded at an important historical moment and continued its work with great sacrifice, with the sacred mission of advancing the broader national interest.
President Rugova and his associates, together with LDK activists and members, gave everything of themselves to fulfill the sacred mission: ‘Freedom, Independence, Democracy.’ After many sacrifices, suffering and tragedies, this historic victory of the Albanian people was finally achieved.
Thanks to the vision of President Rugova and LDK, we managed to win the sympathy and strong support of the United States and the democratic Western states. So, thanks to this excellent cooperation between the sacrifice of the Albanian people and the support of our American and Western European friends, freedom and independence were achieved. Democracy continues to develop with difficulty because of clan interests that have barricaded themselves within political parties,” Tahiraj told the newspaper.
Continuing his criticism, Tahiraj said LDK has moved away from its traditional Western orientation and become involved in internal clan clashes which, according to him, are harming the party.
He supports MP Avdullah Hoti’s position on returning to LDK’s traditional values, stressing that only through reflection, deep reforms and the removal of those who bear responsibility for the failures can the party regain its political strength.
According to Tahiraj, if the current direction does not change, LDK risks continuing its decline, with consequences not only for the party but also for Kosovo.
“At this point, LDK has departed from its traditional course with a clear Western orientation, flirting with political Islam for a handful of votes. Various clans are waging a fierce struggle within the Presidency, the General Council and other structures, to serve personal and clan interests.
Avdullah Hoti has rightly called for a return to LDK’s traditional values, because only by being itself, with its true face, can it begin the journey toward consolidation and re-emerge as a strong factor on the political scene.
What we are seeing today is not even close to the LDK we are used to seeing and wanting. Therefore, it is essential for all important factors within LDK, in Kosovo and in the diaspora, to sit down together, carry out a thorough analysis and identify the repeated mistakes at all stages and by all leaderships, without distinction.
Those who bear responsibility for these failures must acknowledge it and reflect positively by stepping down from the leadership bodies. Deep reforms must be undertaken, both vertically and horizontally, in the party’s organization and structure.
LDK is far bigger and more important for the state than anyone’s personal or clan interests. If these interests are overcome, LDK can grow stronger very quickly, because it has an idealistic and loyal membership.
If the same way of acting continues as it has until now, I am convinced that the decline will continue even further, and this will be to the detriment of the state and the people of Kosovo.
There must be prudence, responsibility and reflection, if we truly want what is best for LDK and our beloved Kosovo,” he concluded to “Bota sot.”
