Bekim Sejdiu withdraws from the race for Kosovo’s president: Parties should break the political deadlock

KOSOVO—Bekim Sejdiu has announced that he will no longer continue his candidacy for the position of President of the Republic of Kosovo.

In a statement on Facebook, Sejdiu explained the reasons behind his decision and called on the political parties to find a solution to the institutional situation that has arisen.

He stressed that Kosovo and its citizens do not need new political confrontations or deeper polarization, but rather maturity and cooperation to strengthen the state. According to him, the ongoing deadlock is eroding citizens’ hope for a better future for themselves and their families.

Sejdiu said that around two weeks earlier he had been contacted by representatives of the Democratic League of Kosovo and invited to a meeting with delegations from the LDK and the Vetëvendosje Movement, led by their respective leaders.

During the meeting, he said he was informed that, following a lengthy series of negotiations, the two parties had agreed to propose him as an independent candidate for President of the Republic of Kosovo.

Sejdiu described the proposal as an important sign of trust in him and as recognition of his commitment to Kosovo’s institutional life. He thanked representatives of the Democratic League of Kosovo and the Vetëvendosje Movement for the trust and support they had shown throughout the process.

He explained that he had accepted the candidacy with the difficult period the country is going through and the risk of the institutional crisis escalating in mind.

According to him, personal comfort and an indifferent stance have never been alternatives to the duty to serve the country, especially in times of crisis. Sejdiu emphasized that intellectuals and professionals have a responsibility toward society and that their knowledge acquires meaning only when placed at the service of the general interest.

He recalled that, in his public announcement, he had also clarified that he had no ambitions for public office beyond his academic and professional engagements. According to him, his sole motivation for accepting the proposal was to contribute to resolving the institutional deadlock.

Sejdiu said he had believed that the parliamentary parties and members of the Assembly would find the will to overcome political divisions and other interests and secure stable institutions for the country during a difficult period.

However, he said that the lack of the necessary support in the Assembly for his election and the process’s shift toward internal political confrontations led him to decide to withdraw his candidacy for President of the Republic of Kosovo.

Sejdiu said he had informed representatives of the Democratic League of Kosovo and the Vetëvendosje Movement of this decision earlier.

He also expressed appreciation for the support he had received in recent days from colleagues, friends, public figures, civil society representatives and, in particular, the Albanian diaspora in the United States of America.

Sejdiu said that this support had made him proud of his work in service of the Republic of Kosovo and strengthened his conviction that institutional loyalty and constitutional patriotism had been his only guiding principles in public life.

He added that his stance, particularly in defense of the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, had never been selective or dictated by circumstances, but principled and professional.

Bekim Sejdiu reiterated that the country needs unity and calm, not political dramas and further divisions.

He said he hoped that the political parties would find a way out of the vicious circle in which they find themselves, as this situation is damaging citizens’ trust and diminishing their expectations for a more prosperous future.

In conclusion, Sejdiu described the Republic of Kosovo as the common home of all its citizens, built on unbreakable ideals and sublime sacrifices. He stressed that Kosovo stands above each of them and that everyone has a duty to serve it with dedication, at all times and unconditionally.

Bekim Sejdiu