Only a few days separate us from the constitutive session of the new Kosovo Assembly, and on Monday, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Glauk Konjufca, shared details from the talks that the leader of the Vetëvendosje Movement, Albin Kurti, held with the leaders of PDK and LDK.
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He noted that after Kurti’s meeting with PDK chairman Bedri Hamza, it became clear that this political force remains anchored in positions we have seen for a long time, which he described as outdated.
On the other hand, speaking about the discussion with LDK, Konjufca emphasized that the impression created is that now there is a stronger will to overcome the current situation in which Kosovo finds itself.
According to his assessment, compared to previous cases, the Democratic League shows a greater readiness for cooperation. He added that the alternatives appearing for an agreement are directly proportional to the level of will. The higher the political will and desire for cooperation, the wider the spectrum of possibilities to find formulas for how responsibilities will be divided. Konjufca recalled that since the December elections, what has prevailed has been a complete blockade.
Without wanting to interfere in the internal dynamics of the Democratic League of Kosovo, he added that the nature of the conversation after Kurti’s meeting with Osmani and Abdixhiku was completely different.
He clarified that the LDK has full autonomy for its internal affairs and they are not there to comment or give advice. However, as far as cooperation is concerned, Konjufca said that it seemed to him that this time the discussion had a different spirit, which makes them more optimistic that a solution could be reached in the near future.
Referring to the position of AAK, Konjufca mentioned that even though they did not accept the invitation to meet with Kurti, they set out the conditions under which they would be willing to cooperate.
Analyst Skënder Zogaj appeals for a clarification of the logic of political leaders. He thinks that Kosovo needs functioning institutions and that everyone bears responsibility if the deadlock continues. Despite party calculations, basic patriotic logic should prevail and it should be understood that the country demands institutions. Zogaj warns that responsibility is turning into a political and national guillotine, because the political class cannot call into question the liberation and independence of Kosovo, which is in a deep crisis where even the smallest mistake can have serious consequences.
Zogaj interprets Konjufca’s statement full of optimism as an encouraging signal and emphasizes that it does not matter who proposes, the major goal is to finalize the formation of state institutions as soon as possible and for the state to resume normality. According to him, the continuation of the institutional blockade constitutes a shameful and harmful action for the nation.
The acting Foreign Minister also announced that Albulena Haxhiu is expected to be the candidate again for the post of Assembly Speaker. Acknowledging that this topic has not yet been officially discussed within the party, he warned that the next meeting of the Presidency will decide definitively. However, he expressed his personal conviction that the proposal will remain the same.
On the other hand, analyst Gani Qarri directs criticism at the LDK, claiming that to undermine consensus, some within it acted hastily and deliberately chose the right moment to block the constructive formula between Kurti and Abdixhiku. He assesses that Rugova’s LDK has been infiltrated by groups with a destructive passion, willing to sacrifice party unity to prevent reaching an agreement for the head of state and overcoming political blockades.
Qarri perceives the LDK as having the will for a solution, but raises questions about an enigmatic grouping within it. He believes that after Abdixhiku’s positive signals for movement and Konjufca’s serious assessment, it remains a mystery why this conspiratorial group rose precisely now, with the excuse of internal grievances, to destroy any chance of an agreement at this crucial moment.
Regarding Albulena Haxhiu, Qarri thinks she will have no problem with the votes for Assembly Speaker, as Vetëvendosje has them secured. The fundamental problem, according to him, remains the election of the president, which requires the presence of two-thirds of MPs in the first two rounds, while in the third a simple majority of 61 votes is sufficient.
Finally, analyst Qarri sees more hope for unblocking the deadlock, arguing that the opposition parties, after electoral losses, are not interested in new early elections. He emphasizes that AAK has expressed readiness to vote for the president within the framework of an agreement with Vetëvendosje. If consensus is not reached, the most likely scenario, according to him, is that the opposition will ensure a quorum by staying in the hall without voting, paving the way for the election of the president in the third round with the votes of the governing majority and non-Serb minorities. This would avoid further prolongation of the crisis, which is presenting domestic politics as unserious and is damaging Kosovo’s image internationally.
