Alternative Chairwoman Mimoza Kusari-Lila said that the refusal by six lawmakers from the Democratic League of Kosovo to support Bekim Sejdiu for president was not prompted by his candidacy, but by their stance toward acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti and the Vetëvendosje Movement.
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During the programme “Interview of the Week,” she said that Avdullah Hoti, Kujtim Shala, Hykmete Bajrami, Janina Ymeri, Armend Zemaj and Arben Gashi would oppose the agreement with LVV even if another consensus candidate had been proposed for president.
According to Kusari-Lila, these lawmakers have not described Professor Bekim Sejdiu as unsuitable for the post. She said their opposition was primarily linked to Albin Kurti and the fact that, despite political clashes, Vetëvendosje and its partners continue to win elections, while public support for the prime minister is growing.
She added that if another candidate had been proposed instead of Sejdiu, the six MPs’ approach would have been the same, because, in her view, their problem does not lie with the name of the presidential candidate.
Commenting on the political agreement and relations with the LDK, the acting Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade described the agreement on Bekim Sejdiu’s candidacy as still valid. She said she would like the six LDK lawmakers to support him as well.
Kusari-Lila cited previous cases in which LDK representatives voted for presidential candidates who were not part of their political entity. In this context, she mentioned the election of Hashim Thaçi and Atifete Jahjaga, while stressing that she herself had also supported a candidate from outside the political parties.
She addressed LDK lawmaker Kujtim Shala in particular, saying that he had not been deprived of the right to serve as a representative of the party in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo and to act as an opposition politician. According to her, Shala will have an unlimited mandate during the next legislature.
Kusari-Lila also stressed that Albin Kurti remains the nominee to form the next Government of the Republic of Kosovo.
Asked about the Alliance’s demands, including American gas as a condition for supporting the president, she expressed doubt that they would be implemented.
According to her, it is not reasonable for a political entity with seven lawmakers to ask the largest party to implement major capital projects related to the government programme.
Kusari-Lila said that a party that came fourth among Albanian political entities could not impose major projects on the largest party, particularly in sectors such as energy capacity, which require many years and affect several generations. She clarified that the government programme must be discussed and approved by the entities assuming responsibility for governing.
The Alternative chairwoman also spoke about the delays in constituting the Assembly. She did not describe the situation as anarchy, but as a necessary period for reaching a high-quality decision that would enable Kosovo to establish its institutions.
According to her, after a number of unsuccessful sessions held every 48 hours, the Constitutional Court had decided that the deadline should start from the beginning and that the parties should reach an agreement within 30 days. Kusari-Lila said the decision had been taken after the 30-day period from certification had expired.
She added that, in the spirit of the ruling calling for consensus and agreement between the parties, political meetings had been held. Nevertheless, according to her, even without an agreement on the president, the session should have been convened, because the government has obligations requiring institutions with full powers, at least to approve draft laws.
Asked whether the delay in constituting the Assembly could have been part of a strategy to push the next elections into December, Kusari-Lila denied this. She said their aim had been to avoid elections and establish stable institutions, including the election of the president.
According to her, those who claim that the delays are intentional and aimed at leading to elections are mistaken. Kusari-Lila said political opponents were focusing on the question of who could bring the elections forward, perhaps to avoid higher turnout among the diaspora. She described this as the opposite of a democratic process.
Kusari-Lila also commented on claims that acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti might know the contents of the Special Court’s September 16 ruling on former KLA leaders.
She ruled out such a possibility, saying that neither Kurti nor any other person in Kosovo or abroad could know the content of the decision before its official announcement.
According to her, such claims are merely speculation and should not be encouraged. She recalled that, even in previous cases involving decisions by Kosovo’s justice system, the content of the final verdict had not become known until the moment it was announced.
Kusari-Lila said that the Special Court is an institution approved by the Kosovo Assembly and that, because of its nature, there is very little opportunity to obtain information in advance. She stressed that the decision-making and announcement of the ruling belong solely to this institution./E. Zeqiri
