Kurti expects constructive meeting with Hamza, PDK leader calls for focus on priorities

Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti will hold separate meetings today with the chairman of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Bedri Hamza, and the chairman of the Democratic League of Kosovo, Lumir Abdixhiku, as part of consultations on forming the country’s new institutions.

The meeting with Hamza is scheduled for 09:00, while the one with Abdixhiku is set for 18:00, and both will take place at the Assembly of Kosovo.

These meetings follow a letter Kurti sent to the leaders of the PDK, LDK and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo to meet, something confirmed by government spokesperson Fatlum Jashari. The invitations were sent one day after the CEC certified the results of the June 7 parliamentary elections.

The CEC certified the results of the June 7 elections on Wednesday. From these elections, Vetëvendosje emerged as the leading party with 47.13%, or 53 seats in the Assembly. The second was the Democratic Party of Kosovo, with 19.44%, or 22 MPs. Meanwhile, the Democratic League of Kosovo, with 16.69%, won 18 seats, and the Alliance, with 6.74%, won seven seats. Non-majority communities secured 20 seats.

Kurti arrived at the Assembly accompanied by acting Finance Minister Hekuran Murati for the meeting with PDK chairman Bedri Hamza.

Before the meeting began, Kurti said he expected the talks with Hamza to be held in a constructive spirit.

“We expect the meeting to be constructive and to establish the institutions of the 11th legislature,” Kurti said.

This is Kurti’s first meeting with the leaders of political parties after the certification of the results by the CEC.

On the other hand, PDK chairman Bedri Hamza said shortly before the meeting with the Vetëvendosje leader at the Assembly of Kosovo that priorities should be discussed first, not positions.

Asked whether a solution would be found for the formation of the new institutions, Hamza mentioned partnership with allies, as well as raising salaries and pensions.

“First, about priorities, because I ran with a program and I ran with several priorities. I did not run to have only four or five ministers, to have this or that position. I ran to have a good environment for business, to have partnership with allies and our friends, and to raise salaries and pensions,” he said.

On Friday, Kurti also invited LDK chairman Lumir Abdixhiku and Alliance chairman Ardian Gjini to meetings.

The latter refused the meeting, while mentioning some of his demands, including American gas in order to make a quorum for the president.