Is a Political Agreement Between LVV and LDK on the Horizon?

Three days before the constituent session is held, attention is focused on the steps that political entities are expected to take. Acting Minister of Trade Mimoza Kusari-Lila announced that Albin Kurti, chairman of the Vetëvendosje Movement, is expected to invite the Democratic League of Kosovo and the other parliamentary parties very soon to continue political discussions.

Kusari-Lila explained that the talks are not limited to the election of the speaker of parliament and the formation of the government. According to her, another priority issue is reaching a consensus on the election of the president.

She said it is now clear what can be offered, mentioning the possibility of discussions and a governing coalition. Regarding the post of president, Kusari-Lila stressed that mutual agreement among the political entities is needed.

In an assessment for RTK, political analyst Sadik Zeqiri said that recent developments within the Democratic League of Kosovo have created more favorable conditions for the resumption of negotiations. He considers that the LDK Assembly has strengthened Lumir Abdixhiku’s position as a negotiator, although the main challenge does not necessarily lie in reaching a political agreement.

According to Zeqiri, the Vetëvendosje Movement, its coalition partners and representatives of the non-Serb communities have the opportunity to secure the votes needed to elect the speaker of parliament and form the government. However, he does not believe there will be enough votes to elect the president in the first two rounds, even if a political agreement is reached with the Democratic League. The Constitution, he stressed, requires at least 80 members of parliament to take part in the vote, not merely to be present in the chamber.

Meanwhile, the Kosovo Law Institute assesses that the time available for a political agreement has decreased significantly. IKD researcher Naim Jakaj said communication between the parties should have begun immediately after the constituent session was scheduled. Speaking about the possibility of an agreement that would also include the president, he assessed that there currently appears to be little chance of such an agreement.

If the announced invitations lead to a concrete agreement, the country could avoid a new institutional deadlock. If this does not happen, securing the votes for the president risks remaining the weakest link in the process of establishing the new institutions.