Richard Grenell’s public support for six LDK MPs who have announced that they will not vote for Bekim Sejdiu as president of Kosovo has reopened the debate over international influence in the country’s domestic politics.
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Grenell called the MPs “excellent friends of America” and singled out former Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti among them. His position has intensified the debate over the rift within the LDK, at a time when Albin Kurti and Lumir Abdixhiku have reached an agreement on Bekim Sejdiu’s candidacy.
The agreement between Kurti and Abdixhiku is intended to resolve the crisis over the election of the president and overcome the institutional deadlock. However, opposition from the six LDK MPs could once again push Kosovo toward a crisis and potentially toward new elections.
Grenell’s position has raised questions about whether his support is part of an effort to block the Kurti-Abdixhiku agreement, as well as whether opposition to the presidential candidacy is intended to weaken Kurti and return the opposition to power.
Gazmend Halilaj and commentator Skënder Kapiti commented on the developments for the newspaper “Bota sot”.
Halilaj: Decisions on Kosovo must be made by its institutions
Gazmend Halilaj described Richard Grenell’s involvement in Kosovo’s political developments as concerning, particularly during a decisive period for the functioning of the institutions.
Halilaj, who says he supports the Vetëvendosje Movement, said Grenell’s public support for the six LDK MPs opposing the candidate agreed upon by Kurti and Abdixhiku should not go unnoticed.
“As a lawyer and supporter of the Vetëvendosje Movement, I consider Richard Grenell’s interference in Kosovo’s politics concerning, especially at such an important moment for our institutions. His public support for the six LDK MPs who oppose the candidate in the Kurti-Abdixhiku agreement is an act that cannot be ignored,” Halilaj told “Bota sot”.
According to him, Kosovo’s political direction should be determined by domestic institutions and by the will of the citizens, expressed through their vote.
“Kosovo has its institutions, MPs and citizens, who have expressed their political will through their vote. It is not normal for there to be interference or pressure at important political moments from foreign individuals seeking to influence the country’s internal developments,” he said.
Halilaj warned that those seeking to weaken the Vetëvendosje Movement, divide the political scene and keep Kosovo in an institutional crisis must face the will of the people.
“Those who are trying today to weaken the Vetëvendosje Movement, divide politics and keep Kosovo in an institutional crisis must understand that citizens are no longer easily manipulated through political deals,” Halilaj stressed.
He expressed clear support for the Vetëvendosje Movement, arguing that the country needs strong, independent and accountable institutions.
“I strongly support the Vetëvendosje Movement because I believe Kosovo must build strong, independent institutions that are accountable to its citizens. I have no illusions about the other parties, since for years we have seen deals, personal interests, party calculations and policies far removed from the public interest,” he said.
Halilaj underlined that Kosovo’s future must be decided within the country and that no external actor can replace the will of its citizens.
“Kosovo must determine its own future. Decisions must be made in Kosovo, by Kosovo’s institutions and in the interests of its citizens. Neither Grenell nor anyone else from abroad can replace the will of the people. The Vetëvendosje Movement represents a necessary political change. Kosovo deserves strong institutions, political sovereignty and progress,” Halilaj concluded.
Kapiti: Opposition to the agreement is part of an anti-Kurti front
Commentator Skënder Kapiti sees opposition to the agreement on the election of the president and Grenell’s support for the six LDK MPs as part of a broader political confrontation against Albin Kurti.
He believes that behind the blocking of the agreement, which is intended to resolve the presidential crisis, lies an effort to remove Kurti from the post of prime minister.
“Albanians, politicians, intellectuals, journalists and the media who oppose the agreement on the president, including international figures such as Grenell, essentially seek to remove Kurti and prevent him from continuing as prime minister. The alliance against Kurti was not created now; it has existed since his first electoral victory. Today it includes the PDK, LDK and AAK, as well as international figures such as Grenell, who has never been on Kurti’s side and has had personal preferences in favor of the opposition. For this reason, he is not concerned if Kosovo goes to elections again,” Kapiti told “Bota sot”.
According to him, citizens, tired of repeated political crises, welcomed the Kurti-Abdixhiku agreement on Bekim Sejdiu positively. However, following the declaration by the six LDK MPs that they oppose it, Kosovo could face further early elections.
“The international community or a foreign politician should not be blamed for the crisis in Kosovo. Political, party, public and state responsibility should be demanded from the opposition and the six LDK MPs who, because of their egos and personal interests, take no account of the party, the electorate, the state or the national interest,” he said.
Kapiti questioned the difference between the position of the six LDK MPs and that of the Serb MPs from the Serb List.
“Is there any difference between the position of these six LDK MPs and the Serb MPs from the Serb List when the opposition acts against the will of the people, who entrusted their vote to the Vetëvendosje Movement and Albin Kurti? The opposition is not respecting the vote or the national interest of Kosovo’s Albanians, which is linked to building the rule of law, implementing the Constitution and fulfilling MPs’ duty toward their homeland and nation,” Kapiti said.
Meanwhile, he described Lumir Abdixhiku’s agreement with Albin Kurti as an act demonstrating political integrity and dignity in confronting the institutional crisis.
“With the agreement on Bekim Sejdiu’s candidacy as president of Kosovo, Abdixhiku demonstrated his integrity and dignity, as well as that of the other LDK MPs, in resolving the institutional crisis. Abdixhiku and the MPs who supported him deserve congratulations because they showed that they place Kosovo above party interests and corrupt deals. This distinguishes the LDK from the rest of the opposition, which he describes as aggressive, selfish and corrupt. However, the emergence of the six MPs opposing the agreement also served to expose the ‘Trojan Horse’ within the LDK, who, according to him, are no different from the Serb MPs of the Serb List,” he said.
Kapiti also linked the current confrontation to the approach of previous governments toward Serbia and northern Kosovo, presenting Kurti’s government as a break from that policy.
“Kurti is the first not to seek the votes of Serb MPs and not to include them in government, unlike others who did so for personal interests. The damage that the political opposition has caused Kosovo through agreements with Belgrade, according to Kapiti, perhaps would not even have been caused by the Serb MPs. When the opposition was in power, it brought Serbia back into Kosovo and allowed it to take what it wanted. Kosovo, however, voted for Albin Kurti, who united the country, prevented the creation of a Serb state within Kosovo and of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities, dismantled the Serbian paramilitary structures and parallel municipal structures, and extended the rule of law and the Constitution throughout the territory,” Kapiti said.
In conclusion, he also praised the position of President Vjosa Osmani, who, despite her political clashes with Kurti, had, according to him, supported a solution to the institutional crisis.
“Kosovo’s voters made a major mistake by not turning out in the elections to give Kurti the opportunity for the Vetëvendosje Movement to form Kosovo’s institutions on its own. Instead, they gave room to the destructive opposition and the six LDK MPs to block a solution to the crisis and the creation of the institutions. Perhaps President Osmani was expected to oppose the agreement because of her ambitions to be re-elected president. Although she has been harsh toward Kurti, she showed that she stands on the side of resolving the crisis in Kosovo,” Kapiti concluded to “Bota sot”.
