Kurti Again Seeks Political Agreement to Avoid New Elections

Albin Kurti, leader of the Vetëvendosje Movement, has reiterated his appeal to the parliamentary political parties to reach a consensus that would enable Kosovo’s institutions to be formed. He said that channels of dialogue with the Democratic League of Kosovo remain open.

According to the VV leader, compromise among the parties remains the only way to end the institutional deadlock and avoid another round of elections. “We are working every day to find common ground and finalize an agreement, with the aim of avoiding pointless elections that would simply reproduce the current situation. I appeal once again to the leaders of the other parties: let us sit down and talk to find a solution. Citizens are not waiting for elections, but for solutions, and that can only be achieved through a political agreement,” Kurti said on Monday.

Saturday’s constitutive session was interrupted once again after Kurti himself requested more time to put forward a candidate for speaker of the Assembly, arguing that a comprehensive agreement had not yet been reached. “My meetings and communications, in my capacity as acting prime minister and leader of the winning party, the Vetëvendosje Movement, with the leaders of the other parliamentary groups have been ongoing. However, we still do not have a political agreement. Therefore, to avoid early elections, I am requesting additional time,” he said a day earlier.

The request for a postponement was accompanied by tensions in the chamber, where Alliance MP Time Kadrijaj threw eggs at the VV leader. The escalation prompted presiding chair Dehari to order Assembly security officers into the chamber.

In terms of the balance of power, the June 7 elections produced the following results: the Vetëvendosje Movement secured 53 seats, the Democratic Party of Kosovo 22, the Democratic League of Kosovo 18, and the Alliance 7 MPs.