Former Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP Xhavit Haliti believes that PDK should not close the door on a political agreement with the Self-Determination Movement (LVV). He says that any potential cooperation should be based on an agreement on governing and should not be limited solely to the election of the president.
Speaking on KosovaPress’s programme “Interview of the Week,” Haliti said that an agreement between the two parties should secure a joint governing programme for a full four-year term.
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According to him, PDK and LVV should first agree on governing together, after which the president could be elected and negotiations could begin on implementing the joint four-year project and programme. Haliti said that the numbers are there, but added that not everyone in PDK shares the same position on a coalition with Vetëvendosje.
He stressed that the issue should be considered by the party’s bodies and its governing council. If no agreement is reached, Haliti said, the views should be put to a vote, and the resulting decision should be binding on everyone. He stated that he personally does not see an agreement as a bad thing, since PDK and LVV are political opponents rather than enemies, although he said he does not believe it will happen, but that anything is possible.
Speaking about objections to such cooperation, Haliti mentioned Sami Lushtaku, who has publicly expressed reservations about a coalition with LVV. He added that Lushtaku is not alone in holding this position.
Haliti said he had heard Sami’s position and that he has the right to his own opinion. According to him, Lushtaku represents an area and a large number of voters, has considerable influence within the party, and his statements should be taken into consideration.
The former PDK MP stated that Lushtaku has never personally told him that he disagrees with such a move or that it should not be pursued in that way. He said that Lushtaku has made his positions public and may have more intimate relations with other people, but there has been no such instance in his relationship with him. Haliti added that Lushtaku has had political clashes with people from Vetëvendosje and with Vetëvendosje itself, so it is entirely normal for him to oppose cooperation with LVV.
Regarding the election of the president, Haliti said that PDK has no obligation to support a candidate if it does not have a coalition with LVV. However, he assessed that reason may prevail over interests, with the aim of establishing institutions and resuming Kosovo’s process from where it was left off.
If no coalition with LVV is reached, Haliti said that PDK should prepare for a major internal battle, in the positive sense, to consolidate itself and for four years in opposition. He said there is no consensus candidate for president, as politics operates on mutual interests, and added that he does not know who could be a consensus president between PDK and Vetëvendosje.
Haliti also spoke about the latest meeting on July 10 between PDK leader Bedri Hamza and LVV leader Albin Kurti. He said he does not know whether talks were interrupted following the proposals or conditions presented by Hamza, as he was not part of the meeting and is not its spokesperson.
He said he believes Hamza presented PDK’s conditions, including the economic project that Bedri Hamza had as a candidate for prime minister and the issue of the coalition. Haliti stated that there cannot be a coalition solely because of the election of a president proposed by PDK, even if that person is not a member of PDK.
According to Haliti, there may be political responsibility on the part of the party leader not to block the process. He mentioned the possibility of a firm and irreversible decision for PDK to remain in opposition, while the president is elected to open the way for elections.
In the interview, Haliti also commented on recent developments in the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and the race for its leadership. He denied that PDK has any interest in or preference regarding the person who will lead LDK.
He said the claim that PDK chooses the person who succeeds the current LDK leader is unfounded. According to Haliti, there may be friendships and friendly relations between individuals, but there is no such closeness between the two parties that it would be discussed whether PDK likes the LDK leader or not.
Haliti stressed that parties can usually have preferences or wish to have better relations with certain leaders, because they may find it easier to reach agreements on future decisions. However, he said that every party, including PDK, should want LDK to be a serious, united party with its own ideals and to continue its political life in Kosovo.
Regarding his relations with Gazmend Muhaxheri, the LDK mayor of Peja, Haliti said he has good relations with him. He clarified that the coalition in the municipality does not mean that he has influence over Muhaxheri’s demands concerning the dismissal or election of the Democratic League leader. Haliti added that he has not yet spoken with Muhaxheri to find out whether he has a preference and what the situation is on this issue.
