Bekim Sejdiu, the name being considered for Kosovo’s presidency

Bekim Sejdiu is being mentioned as one of the leading names in political discussions over Kosovo’s next president.

Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti and LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku are reported to have reached an agreement in principle for the former judge of Kosovo’s Constitutional Court to be proposed for the post.

According to reports, the agreement was reached during Kurti and Abdixhiku’s penultimate meeting, which took place on Wednesday.

However, there has still been no official confirmation that the agreement on Sejdiu’s candidacy is final.

The two leaders met again on Saturday evening in an unannounced meeting, but did not disclose details about the issues discussed.

“When we have results on our side, we will have news for you,” Kurti said briefly after the meeting.

Bekim Sejdiu was born in 1974 and served as a judge on Kosovo’s Constitutional Court. Before taking on that role, he also built experience in the field of diplomacy.

He served as Kosovo’s ambassador to Turkey from 2008 to 2012, while from 2012 to 2014 he served as consul general in New York. Before being appointed ambassador, Sejdiu was a political adviser in the cabinet of the first minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo.

Sejdiu has been a professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Pristina since 2002, Telegrafi reports.

He completed his undergraduate law studies at the University of Pristina. He then pursued postgraduate studies in international relations, democracy and human rights, while earning his doctorate in international and diplomatic studies.

Although Sejdiu’s name is part of an agreement reportedly reached in principle between Kurti and Abdixhiku, it has not yet been officially announced whether he will be the final candidate seeking support in the Assembly.

At least 80 deputies must be present in the Assembly for the presidential election process to proceed. In the first two rounds, two-thirds of all deputies’ votes are required, which amounts to 80 votes.

If the matter goes to a third round, the candidate can be elected by a majority of all deputies, or with 61 votes.