Adnan Rrustemi: Besnik Tahiri’s proposal for a consensus president would have avoided the crisis

LVV MP-elect Adnan Rrustemi spoke about Besnik Tahiri’s idea regarding a joint opposition candidate for president, assessing that such a move would have changed the course of political developments and avoided the institutional crisis.

Rrustemi said: “The offer was aimed more at the rest of the opposition, at PDK and LDK, for us to come forward with a joint candidate for president. Naturally, the opposition has enough signatures to put forward a candidate and, as I have said before, that is their right and remains for them to decide. On the other hand, had this opportunity been used last time, we simply would not have had the crisis and we would not have had early elections. Because the Assembly would have had the opportunity and the quorum to elect the president or female president of the Republic. Therefore, I welcome any idea from the opposition to overcome and resolve the presidential crisis, naturally in the hope that they have given up the blockade. Blockade is never a solution.”

According to him, this is an issue that concerns only the opposition parties and has nothing to do with the Vetëvendosje Movement.

He further stated: “This is an agreement within the opposition. If Mr. Tahiri means an agreement within the opposition on one of their joint candidates, yes, it is true that if the opposition had come forward with a presidential candidate last time, we would have had a sufficient quorum and we would not have had the crisis and we would not have had early elections. But the opposition rejected every possibility because it had made up its mind for elections. They wanted elections at any cost and by any means, which is why it rejected every offer from the Vetëvendosje Movement, whether for the Speaker of the Assembly, the inclusion of LDK in the government, a consensus president, or even for them to propose one name or three names and we would vote for one of them. Therefore, Mr. Tahiri’s idea, Mr. Tahiri’s offer, is for PDK and LDK to become part of this process and give up the blockade. So, I repeat, I welcome any opposition initiative that reflects giving up the blockade of refusal and, naturally, helps and contributes in any way, even by coming forward with a candidate, to overcome the presidential crisis.”

KosovaPress insisted on getting a position from AAK MP-elect Besnik Tahiri as well regarding Adnan Rrustemi’s statements, but he was not reachable.

On Monday, Alliance MP-elect Besnik Tahiri stated that one way to avoid a new institutional deadlock would be for the parties of the former opposition to support Ramush Haradinaj for president, while an LVV candidate, as the election-winning party, would run against him.

The Central Election Commission published the final results of the June 7 elections on June 27.

From this electoral process, the Vetëvendosje Movement came first, in a pre-election coalition with Guxo and Alternativa, with 47.13%, securing 53 seats. The Democratic Party of Kosovo received 19.44% and 22 seats, the Democratic League of Kosovo won 16.69% and 18 seats, while the Alliance received 6.74% and seven seats.