The Democratic Party of Kosovo (LDK) has declared that it will cooperate with the Vetëvendosje Movement (LVV), the winner of the June 7 elections, with the aim of reaching an agreement that would enable the creation of new institutions. However, observers remain skeptical whether this would bring a solution, noting internal divisions in the party led by Lumir Abdixhiku.
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LDK deputy chairman, Lufti Haziri, in a statement to Radio Free Europe, said that during the party’s assembly on July 30, a consensus was reached for the entity to engage in cooperation with the party of the acting prime minister, Albin Kurti, for the establishment of institutions.
Haziri emphasized that in principle they have agreed and the assembly confirmed that LDK will participate in the cooperation process for building institutions, contributing to avoid the possibility of another election in Kosovo.
The negotiations between LDK and LVV were interrupted on July 15, because a part of LDK officials demanded the dismissal of chairman Abdixhiku, following dissatisfaction with the election result. Although Abdixhiku survived the motion for dismissal, the differences and disagreements within the party, evidenced by the votes for and against him, are evident, according to senior LDK officials and political scene connoisseurs.
Achieving unity in LDK for a common stance of its 18 MPs on a possible agreement with LVV remains a challenge, especially since among them there are also those who voted for Abdixhiku’s dismissal.
Acting president Albulena Haxhiu, after Friday’s meeting with representatives of parliamentary political parties, described Abdixhiku’s warning to lift the suspension of talks on institutions as good news. She stressed that it is very important for these meetings to continue to conclude the constitution of institutions resulting from the June 7 elections.
Haxhiu requested that meetings be called and held with maximum effort and seriousness to reach an agreement that would ensure consensus for the election of the president. According to her, it is essential that these meetings continue as soon as possible.
However, an agreement between LVV and LDK still does not appear on the horizon, despite less than a week remaining until the constitutive session of the Kosovo Assembly, scheduled for August 6. With the constitution of the Assembly, the deadlines for forming the new government and electing the president begin, for which MPs of the new legislature have a 60-day deadline from the day of constitution to vote for the new head of state.
Haziri affirmed that LDK can close all principled issues within 24 hours. The LDK assembly, where delegates gave confidence to Abdixhiku to continue at the helm, clearly highlighted internal divergences: 170 delegates voted for the continuation of his mandate, 152 opposed, and 5 abstained.
According to Haziri, despite these divergences, LDK now faces the LVV’s offer for cooperation. He recalled LDK’s principles for an agreement: a comprehensive agreement for all institutions (Assembly, Government, Presidency) or none; state agenda, sectoral policies, governing programs, the country’s interest, and sharing of responsibilities. He said these principles unite the parliamentary group and the assembly has required that this right be exercised to the end, while the manner of fulfilling the request is now a matter of negotiation with LVV.
Haziri added that since the first formal meeting between Kurti, Abdixhiku and former president Vjosa Osmani on July 10, LVV has been aware of these principles and it is now its turn to show whether it accepts them. In case of agreement, the unity of LDK’s parliamentary group can be ensured through internal cooperation. He expressed confidence in the political maturity of the group to support the decisions of the chairman.
Connoisseurs of political developments say that recent developments in LDK and the positioning of parties in general do not give promising signals for the formation of new institutions. The narrow result of the vote for Abdixhiku reconfirms deep rifts between two camps, which makes difficult or impossible the normal functioning of the party and any negotiating strategy with LVV.
Analyst Rrahman Paçarizi, professor of journalism at the University of Prishtina, declared for Radio Free Europe that Haziri’s statement that LDK will go towards an agreement if LVV respects its principles does not clarify the situation, but rather serves to build the narrative that LDK is not blocking institutions. According to him, this action is conditioned, because parties, including LVV, are still building narratives about who is to blame for the non-formation of institutions. Paçarizi thinks that neither LDK nor other parties will declare themselves against the creation of institutions, but sees little chance that Abdixhiku and the dissatisfied camp will find a formula for a common stance of the 18 MPs.
He emphasizes that opportunities for an agreement have not been completely exhausted, but it will depend on the will and seriousness of Albin Kurti. However, he remains skeptical about the formation of institutions even if an agreement is reached, because the crux of the problem is the election of the president. In the first two rounds, 80 votes are needed, while in the third round 61 votes are sufficient in the 120-seat Assembly. LVV has 53 MPs and can be supported by 9-10 MPs from non-majority communities. Adding LDK’s 18 MPs, the number 80 can be reached, but it is very difficult to secure all of LDK’s votes for a non-maximal solution for them; according to Paçarizi, even the most optimal solutions would not work.
Analyst Artan Muhaxhiri also emphasizes that conflicts within LDK show that no agreement with LVV will have the support of all 18 MPs. According to him, he lacks at least six or seven MPs, so Abdixhiku must radically change his approach towards dissatisfied MPs and important figures opposing his leadership. However, Muhaxhiri does not expect such a change and concludes that, taking into account other facts, the only option remains new elections, because with this political climate it is impossible to secure 80 votes, the key to solving problems and avoiding elections.
If parties do not reach a consensus on the president, the country will go to elections again. These would be the second elections caused by lack of consensus for the head of state and the fourth since February 2025. / REL
