Bekim Sejdiu, the Candidate Seeking to Unblock the Kurti-Abdixhiku Agreement on Kosovo’s Presidency

After several weeks of talks and a prolonged period of institutional deadlock, the Vetëvendosje Movement and the Democratic League of Kosovo have agreed on a joint candidate for the post of President of Kosovo: Professor and former Constitutional Court judge Bekim Sejdiu.

The agreement was made public on Monday, August 31, by LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku, following a meeting with LVV leader Albin Kurti. Abdixhiku said that, after reviewing the proposed names, the two parties had agreed on the candidacy of Prof. Dr. Bekim Sejdiu.

Sejdiu himself confirmed that he had accepted the proposal to run for president, linking his decision to the particular political circumstances facing Kosovo. He said he felt honored by the trust placed in him by both political parties.

The agreement between Kurti and Abdixhiku comes at a critical stage for making the institutions functional and preventing a new political crisis. After a prolonged institutional deadlock, the issue is now expected to move from negotiations between the leaders to the Kosovo Assembly, where the candidacy must receive lawmakers’ votes.

The main question remains whether Sejdiu will be able to secure support beyond LVV and LDK and whether he can become a consensus figure for the majority of political forces. The vote in the Assembly will determine whether the agreement between the two parties will lead to the election of a president and the restoration of the institutions’ normal functioning.

Political analysts Gani Qarri and Gani Mehmeti gave their assessments of the latest developments to the newspaper “Bota sot.” They welcomed Bekim Sejdiu’s candidacy, although they hold differing views on the possibility of securing the necessary votes in the Assembly.

Qarri: The Kurti-Abdixhiku agreement is the best solution under the current circumstances

Analyst Gani Qarri describes the agreement between Albin Kurti and Lumir Abdixhiku as the most appropriate development that could have been achieved in Kosovo’s current political situation.

According to Qarri, the agreement should be understood as a step in the interests of the state and citizens, rather than as an effort to raise or improve the image of the political parties. He considers it an example that could also be useful in the future, as, in his view, it stands above party interests and is not an instrument of the leaders.

Qarri says the proposal of Sejdiu is a realistic solution to the problem of electing a president. He believes that, given the candidate’s education and experience in institutions, politics and diplomacy, all parties represented in the Assembly should support him, regardless of their political beliefs or positions.

The analyst particularly values Sejdiu’s background in international relations and diplomacy, as well as his knowledge of democracy, human rights, governance and European affairs. For Qarri, this combination makes him a well-rounded and suitable candidate for the post of president.

Qarri emphasizes that, in the current situation, political stability, stable governance and the functioning of the state are directly linked to the election of a president. For this reason, he believes that the name proposed by LVV and LDK should be supported by all parliamentary entities and voted on at the Assembly’s first session.

According to him, Sejdiu has built a broad institutional, diplomatic, legal and academic profile over the years. He describes him as a highly qualified professional who has led important institutions and represented Kosovo at high political and diplomatic levels.

Qarri says that the fact that LVV and LDK, after weeks of negotiations and a prolonged institutional blockade, agreed specifically on a well-known figure such as Bekim Sejdiu represents a positive development for the country.

The analyst believes that this candidacy can overcome party divisions. He stresses that Sejdiu is a professor, diplomatic representative, ambassador and former Constitutional Court judge, while also being a recognized figure in the legal field, in addition to diplomacy and institutional affairs.

According to Qarri, the candidacy is not connected to the ego of any political force, but to the interests of the citizens and the state of Kosovo. For this reason, he hopes it will be accepted by all sides and bring the political deadlock to an end.

He says the agreement between Kurti and Abdixhiku was reached at a decisive moment, when the institutions need to become functional and the country must avoid another political crisis. In his assessment, early elections would not guarantee a solution to the situation, since the previous two or three elections did not bring major changes in the parties’ support and did not overcome the deadlock over the election of a president.

Qarri believes that Sejdiu meets the criteria that political parties had previously cited for the head of state. He considers him a proven professional with a high level of education, diplomatic experience, and political and legal engagements, all of which he has carried out successfully.

In his view, Sejdiu is the right candidate for the right post at the right time. Qarri adds that the candidate himself has made clear that he will place the interests of Kosovo and its citizens above the interests of political parties and the group or individual ambitions of their leaders.

The analyst believes that Sejdiu’s profile could attract votes beyond the two parties that nominated him. He sees him as a possible meeting point between the governing camp, the opposition and community lawmakers.

Qarri hopes that this agreement will lead to the election of a president, the removal of the deadlock, the prevention of early elections and the resolution of Kosovo’s current political problems.

Finally, he warns that the real challenge for the election of a president has now shifted to the Assembly. Qarri says that, regardless of objections and positions that could prolong the process, lawmakers must take into account Kosovo’s urgent need for a president, stable institutions and stable governance.

Mehmeti: The votes in the Assembly are the key obstacle in the process

Analyst Gani Mehmeti calls the agreement between Kurti and Abdixhiku a long-awaited accord, but stresses that the main difficulty now lies in securing the necessary votes in the Assembly.

Mehmeti says citizens had eagerly awaited this agreement, which, in his view, comes at an important moment for making the institutions functional and avoiding a new political crisis. He considers it incomprehensible and unexpected for lawmakers to oppose such an agreement.

According to him, at the very least, LVV and LDK lawmakers should vote for the joint candidate. However, Mehmeti believes that the other parties should also support Sejdiu, so that the president is seen as representing all political forces and not only the two entities that nominated him.

He views the agreement on a consensus candidate as a positive message and evidence of cooperation between LVV and LDK. According to Mehmeti, the two parties should continue cooperating with each other.

Nevertheless, Mehmeti is more skeptical about the possibility of Sejdiu receiving votes beyond LVV and LDK. He refers to the positions of PDK and AAK, which, in his view, make it more difficult to create a broader opposition consensus.

The analyst emphasizes that, based on the positions expressed so far, Bekim Sejdiu may not be able to unite the votes of the other parties. He adds that the community lawmakers, for the most part, are aligned with LVV and LDK.

For this reason, Mehmeti believes that the agreement reached by the two leaders cannot yet be considered the end of the institutional crisis. According to him, everything will depend on the vote in the Assembly, and particularly on the position of LDK lawmakers.

He believes the agreement would be enough to end the crisis if all LDK lawmakers voted for Sejdiu’s candidacy. Otherwise, Mehmeti says, the country could face another political crisis.

Bekim Sejdiu’s candidacy has now passed the negotiation stage between Kurti and Abdixhiku. The decisive step is expected to take place in the Assembly, where it will be determined whether he can secure the necessary support.

If the candidate receives enough votes and broad backing, his election could mark the end of one of Kosovo’s longest institutional deadlocks.