Abdixhiku after meeting with Kurti: Kosovo is moving closer to snap elections

The leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo, Lumir Abdixhiku, said after meeting with acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti that the two had exchanged information about the latest developments in their respective parties.

Abdixhiku said he had informed Kurti about the position of six LDK lawmakers who did not support Bekim Sejdiu’s candidacy for president of Kosovo. According to him, Kurti also briefed him on developments within Vetëvendosje’s leadership and the party’s Parliamentary Group.

“It was a regular briefing following developments in both parties. When discussion processes are under way, it is normal for us to officially inform each other about developments within our parties. I informed him about what happened yesterday, while he briefed me on developments within VV’s leadership and Parliamentary Group,” Abdixhiku said.

Speaking about the six LDK lawmakers who oppose Sejdiu, Abdixhiku said they should explain their decision themselves. He said this approach had placed Kosovo in an unclear situation.

Abdixhiku stressed that he had tried to contribute to finding a solution, adding that lawmakers who do not participate in efforts to find one are creating the conditions for snap elections. He said the political battle over the government should take place in the Kosovo Assembly, while the issue of the president should be resolved by electing a president and through normal political conduct.

“You should ask those who have decided to place Kosovo in an unclear situation. This is not my responsibility. If they have distanced themselves and are not participating in finding a solution, then they are automatically causing snap elections. Unfortunately, from what I am seeing, we are creating a numerical deadlock in the Kosovo Assembly,” he said.

Regarding the six conditions set by the Alliance, Abdixhiku said that fulfilling them was not a matter for him to decide. He added that every party was welcome to participate in efforts to find a solution, while stressing that these conditions had not been part of the discussions.

On Monday, following a series of meetings, LVV leader Albin Kurti and LDK chairman Lumir Abdixhiku reached an agreement on a consensus candidate for president.

However, six LDK lawmakers spoke out against the agreement with VV and announced that they would not vote for Bekim Sejdiu as president. Kurti, who had commented on developments within the LDK the previous night, said after meeting with Vetëvendosje lawmakers and lawmakers from the pre-election coalition with Guxo and Alternativa that the agreement with the LDK remained in force.

Kurti also announced that he would hold another meeting with Abdixhiku and Vetëvendosje’s leadership. After the meeting, he left the Assembly through a side entrance and did not comment to the media.