Is Kosovo’s Political Deadlock Coming to an End? Konjufca: Presidential Candidates Have Been Selected

The Vetëvendosje Movement has already selected the names of potential candidates for Kosovo’s next president, but will not make them public before talks with the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK).

Acting Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca said that Vetëvendosje and acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti are ready to hold a meeting with LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku.

According to him, specific candidates for the country’s next head of state are expected to be presented and discussed at the meeting.

Konjufca said the LDK’s expressed willingness to meet, as well as its announcement that the next discussion would focus on specific names, represents a new opportunity to reach an agreement.

He said there is a considerable chance that Kosovo will elect its next president through negotiations between Kurti and Abdixhiku. He made the comments following the start of the retrial over the release of tear gas in the Assembly.

Confirming that Vetëvendosje has its candidates ready, Konjufca explained that revealing them at this stage would undermine the purpose of the negotiating process. He stressed that both Vetëvendosje and Prime Minister Kurti are prepared for the talks.

According to Konjufca, the LDK is also expected to be ready soon, as Abdixhiku said last week that the meeting would take place this week.

However, based on the information available to him, Kurti has not yet received an invitation, nor have there been any discussions about setting a date for the meeting.

Konjufca added that Vetëvendosje is waiting for the meeting announced by Abdixhiku to take place. In his assessment, once the parties sit down to consider specific names, an agreement on the president of the Republic of Kosovo will be very close.