Haziri: LDK can unite its 18 votes only if the presidency goes to the party

The Democratic League of Kosovo can make available the 18 votes of its deputies elected to the Assembly of Kosovo if, in a possible agreement with the Vetëvendosje Movement, the winner of the June 7 snap parliamentary elections, the post of president is given to the LDK.

LDK deputy leader Lutfi Haziri told RFE/RL that his party’s deputies could come out united only if the candidate for president comes from within the LDK and not from outside it.

“If that name is Lumir [Abdixhiku, the party chairman] or my name, then we can unite. Lumir should be first, by virtue of his official position, because he is chairman. After Lumir, I have the broadest consensus [within the LDK],” Haziri stressed.

In the June 7 election race, the LDK ran with Vjosa Osmani as its candidate for president and Lumir Abdixhiku as its candidate for prime minister.

Although the party won 18 seats in the Assembly of Kosovo, Haziri said it would not be possible to secure the support of all LDK deputies for Osmani’s candidacy.

“It could be like last time, meaning two or three votes could split, but in Lumir’s case or in my case, we can unite,” Haziri explained.

Osmani herself had said earlier that her name “has not been, is not, and will not become an obstacle to the creation of institutions.”

Haziri also said that currently there is only one official address within the LDK for any possible communication from the Vetëvendosje Movement regarding a potential agreement.

“Only with Lumir Abdixhiku. He is the chairman. We have not convened the Assembly [of the LDK]. If the Assembly is convened or there is an act of resignation, then we have a new situation. Until then there is only one address and there is no second address,” Haziri said.

His statement came in response to the positions expressed by Donika Gërvalla, acting minister of justice in Albin Kurti’s government and part of the LVV.

Speaking about internal developments in the LDK, Gërvalla said that in this party “there are several different currents.”

She added that it remains a problem for the LVV to hold talks with the LDK because, according to her, “we do not know which current you are talking to,” when it comes to a possible agreement on consolidating institutions after the June 7 elections.

“I am asking that the person who potentially sits down to negotiate with us also be the person who represents this party. We cannot sit down with five different people in the LDK. Because if the LDK wants to be a factor in the election of the president, then they must also guarantee the votes of their own parliamentary group,” Gërvalla stressed.

On the other hand, Haziri said that so far the LDK “has not received any invitation from the LVV” for talks on a possible agreement.

According to him, if such an invitation is sent to the party, it will be handled by the LDK’s bodies and the decision will be made within the party, depending on the offer that comes from the LVV.

The June 7 snap elections were held after the previous legislature failed to elect a new president within the constitutional deadline, following the end of Vjosa Osmani’s five-year mandate in April.

The LVV has said it is ready to discuss the formation of new institutions after the June 7 election result is certified.

The Constitution stipulates that at least 61 votes from deputies are needed to constitute the Assembly and elect the Government.

As the winner of the elections, Albin Kurti’s LVV is expected to secure 53 mandates in the 120-seat Assembly and, together with the non-Serb minorities, may reach the numbers needed for the Assembly and the Government.