Avni Arifi: We can support Glauk Konjufca for president, as long as we are given guarantees for our points

Avni Arifi, the general secretary of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), has stated that his political entity is open to facilitating the process of electing the president that the Vetëvendosje Movement will propose, but on one condition: that the party that came first on June 7 takes on the fulfillment of the Alliance’s six key demands.

During an interview on the show “Intervista e Javës” on KosovaPress, Arifi said that they are awaiting an invitation from the leader of Vetëvendosje, Albin Kurti, to discuss these points, among which the issue of approving American gas stands out.

He elaborated that this meeting would also address the formation of future institutions, underlining that AAK’s seven MPs are ready to ensure the quorum for the president, regardless of whether the candidate offered by LVV is Glauk Konjufca or someone else.

Arifi suggested that during the meeting the other side could commit to implementing all demands, paving the way for further talks. He stressed that the Alliance has made things very easy for LVV by offering its seven votes to secure the quorum at the lowest possible cost. According to him, AAK is the only post-war party that offers the election winner its votes without asking anything in return for itself – no ministerial posts, no deputy ministers, ambassadors, advisors, or benefits for the municipalities it runs.

On the issue of American gas, the Alliance secretary stressed that it is not simply about gas, but about a matter of strategic partnership and Kosovo’s alignment. According to him, by saying no to gas and also no to coal, the country risks remaining dependent on imports through what he called the “energy mafia”.

Arifi clarified that these points are not rigid and can be subject to negotiations in a meeting between the heads of the two parties, adding that from their side there is political will to discuss and find compromise. “We have not brought a Bible or a Quran that we cannot change a single letter,” he said, underlining that where there is a will, there is a solution.

In addition to accepting American gas, the Alliance has put forward five other demands: relief for small businesses, support for the agricultural sector, budgeting for infrastructure, the immediate start of procedures for the construction of a coal-fired power plant, and a fund of 1 billion euros for the capital.

Asked about the profile of the presidential candidate, Arifi replied that his party does not condition its support on specific names, but only on the guarantees that LVV must provide for the implementation of the mentioned points. He declared that whatever profile is chosen – whether Glauk Konjufca, Dimal Basha or Albulena Haxhiu – the Alliance will stay in the chamber and vote, provided it receives the proper commitments, whether through public guarantees or other forms that can be defined in a meeting between the leaders of the two political forces.

He clarified that AAK will not block any agreement that LVV might reach with LDK or PDK for the election of the president or the formation of institutions, stressing that they have only set their own conditions and do not interfere in the possible agreements of the winning force.

However, Arifi sharply criticized the delay of the constitutive session and recalled that August 6 is the last legal day to postpone this date. He argued that the election results have been clear since June 15, giving the winning party sufficient time to prepare for the establishment of institutions, including an agreement for the president and the formation of the government with existing partners who hold 63 votes.

On the possibility of new elections, he described such a scenario as “madness” and an act of extreme selfishness from those who think that PDK and LDK could gain more votes in another round of elections. According to him, sending the country to new elections is unacceptable, not only because of the expense of 5-6 million euros.

On another topic, Arifi expressed his full support for the government’s decision that Serbian prosecutors and judges, who resigned in 2022, should not return to the system. He stressed that a new process is needed and that the executive’s stance on this issue is right and enjoys his absolute backing.