On September 30, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said Bekim Sejdiu remained the Vetëvendosje Movement’s (LVV) candidate for president, even though he had withdrawn from the race. Kurti called for further meetings with opposition parties, with six days left before the deadline for electing the head of state.
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“As for the candidate, we have our candidate. The candidate is Professor Bekim Sejdiu, as agreed,” Kurti said at a news conference.
Sejdiu was nominated for president by LVV and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) on August 31. The following day, six LDK lawmakers opposed his candidacy.
The former Constitutional Court judge and diplomat announced on September 14 that he was withdrawing, citing a lack of the necessary support in parliament and internal political conflicts.
Kurti linked Sejdiu’s withdrawal to the circumstances created when the agreement was not honored, blaming the six LDK lawmakers.
“From the Vetëvendosje Movement’s point of view, we have a political agreement, and I believe we should honor it,” Kurti said, stressing that his party had no other candidate.
The prime minister did not say whether he had spoken to Sejdiu about returning to the race or whether Sejdiu would agree to run again. Radio Free Europe has asked Sejdiu whether he is willing to return and is awaiting his response.
Kurti calls for new meetings but sets no date
In its September 23 ruling, the Constitutional Court determined that the 60-day deadline for electing the president began on August 8 and ends on October 6. If parliament does not elect a president by then, Kosovo risks holding new elections.
Kurti said he was in direct contact with Bedri Hamza, leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), and Lumir Abdixhiku, leader of the LDK. He said he had not met them on September 29 or 30 and did not specify when the next meeting might take place.
“It is essential that we hold new meetings,” he said.
Kurti expressed hope that an agreement could be reached, citing parliament’s declaration concerning the trial in The Hague of four former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, which was approved on September 28 with 99 votes in favor.
According to the prime minister, the declaration’s approval shows that the parties can cooperate on other issues as well. He warned that engaging in fierce electoral rivalry would benefit Kosovo’s opponents.
“That is why there must be meetings, and I believe we will be able to sit down, discuss and build further on Monday’s agreement,” Kurti said.
He said the talks should take place between political leaders and their conclusions should be made public afterward. “There are no guarantees, but I have seen the willingness,” he added.
The election of a president has been one of the main causes of Kosovo’s political crisis and led to early elections in June. If a president is not elected by October 6, the country will hold parliamentary elections for the fourth time in two years.
A response to the PDK’s request is expected this week
The PDK has made further talks on the presidency conditional on the approval of its draft law, which seeks to amend and supplement the Law on the Specialist Chambers.
After speaking with Kurti on September 27, Hamza said they had not discussed specific presidential candidates. “We did not get into names or discuss them. If the law passes, we are open to other topics as well,” he said a day later.
Asked whether the PDK had offered its votes for president in exchange for the legal changes, Kurti said they had not discussed “trading or exchanging either positions or views.”
The PDK initiative was sent to the government for review on September 25. Kurti said the legal and financial assessments were expected to be completed this week. According to him, the Prime Minister’s Office legal department has requested an opinion from the Ministry of Justice and a financial assessment from the Budget Department at the Ministry of Finance.
“Immediately afterward, we will give our response to the Assembly of the Republic, and the procedure will continue there,” he said.
Kurti reiterated that he considers the Specialist Chambers’ first-instance judgment against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi unjust. He called for a joint state strategy and the involvement of legal experts in the appeals process.
The LDK, meanwhile, has said it is willing to help elect a president. On September 28, its parliamentary group leader, Jehona Lushaku, said the party could not come out for or against a candidate but wanted the matter resolved.
The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo has refused to meet Kurti to discuss the presidency. Lawmaker Ramush Haradinaj has accused the prime minister of seeking to take the country to new elections. / RFE
