After securing a second term at the helm of Pristina and returning the LDK to governing the capital after 12 years, Përparim Rama has announced that he intends to take over the leadership of the party.
Të lidhura
None found
The mayor of Pristina has repeated his statements about a possible candidacy, particularly after the formation of the Kurti 4 government and the election of the new president.
Political analysts say Rama’s ambition should be taken seriously, but they doubt that he can lead the LDK out of its crisis. According to them, his candidacy may be primarily a personal desire and, rather than resolving the situation, could increase the risk of weakening the party.
Mehmeti: Rama’s candidacy could deepen divisions within the LDK
Commentator Gani Mehmeti, speaking to the newspaper “Bota sot,” says that Rama’s candidacy would not be an answer to the LDK’s crisis. On the contrary, he says, it could further weaken the political entity.
Mehmeti also disagrees with the claim that the LDK is the leading force in Pristina. He notes that Rama’s election as mayor was also made possible by the support of other parties.
“Përparim Rama appears to have major ambitions and may also be seeking other important positions in politics, but that does not mean he will succeed in securing them. His desire to become chairman of the Democratic League of Kosovo should be viewed in the same light. It may be an important goal for him, but I do not believe that the LDK’s membership and structures see it in the same way. In my view, his candidacy will remain a personal desire and will not end with his election as party leader. The LDK has lost a great deal of ground in recent years, and Rama’s arrival in the leadership could further worsen its situation, creating serious problems in the next elections, including the possibility that it may fail to cross the electoral threshold. Therefore, I do not think Rama is the solution the LDK needs now,” Mehmeti says.
He also questions the results of Rama’s administration in the capital, as well as his ability to unite the party’s structures. According to the commentator, the LDK must reclaim its political identity and the Rugova spirit, while Rama’s candidacy risks increasing divisions.
“Rama can say whatever he wants about the LDK and its position in Pristina, but his claims are not necessarily entirely accurate. He must bear in mind that he was elected mayor of Pristina also thanks to other parties, not solely with LDK votes. In my view, one of the fundamental problems is that the party has lost its political direction over the years. The LDK is no longer what it should have been, and in my assessment, this began when Isa Mustafa took over its leadership. I believe Rama does not embody the Rugova spirit, which should be a central part of the LDK’s identity. His candidacy could lead to new conflicts, because I do not believe he has sufficient support to unite the membership. The party needs a chairman who brings members together, listens to their views and fosters cooperation, not a contest that deepens the divisions that already exist,” Mehmeti concludes to “Bota sot”.
Gashi: Responsibility in Pristina and building an alternative for the entire country
Political analyst Eduard Gashi says Rama’s aim of leading the LDK should be taken seriously, but success in the capital does not automatically translate into support across the country. According to him, the party needs genuine reforms and a clear political platform.
“Përparim Rama’s ambition should be taken seriously, since he has publicly linked his name to the possibility of taking over the leadership of the LDK, and the issue is no longer merely media speculation. He has said that he believes he will run, although he has not yet made a final decision, and that he has discussed his readiness to lead the party with Lumir Abdixhiku, Lutfi Haziri and Avdullah Hoti. These statements show that this is a political discussion that began earlier. However, the seriousness of the intention must be distinguished from the chances of achieving it. Seeking the post of chairman is one thing; proving that you have the vision, team, legitimacy and courage to reform the party is another. Rama must show what changes he proposes, whom he will work with and how he will earn the membership’s trust. Only if his readiness takes the form of a concrete program can this be regarded as a genuine political alternative rather than merely an individual ambition,” Gashi tells “Bota sot”.
Gashi adds that the LDK’s result in Pristina gives Rama reason to seek a larger role, but leading a party with a nationwide reach requires support beyond the capital.
“The victory in Pristina is an important argument in Rama’s favor and gives him the right to demand that his voice be heard in the discussion about the LDK’s future. The party’s return as the leading force in the capital after twelve years should be examined carefully, but it is not an automatic mandate to lead it at the central level. The result is influenced by the candidate, the party’s organization, grassroots work, the political circumstances and voters’ choice to support an alternative. Consequently, it would not be fair to credit a single individual with everything. Pristina has its own political and electoral characteristics, while Kosovo’s municipalities have different social and economic realities. Victory in the capital does not mean that voters throughout the country have also been convinced. A party chairman must prove that he can build trust beyond his local base and offer solutions to citizens’ problems on a national scale. Therefore, Rama’s result is political capital that deserves attention, but not a prior guarantee that he will take over the leadership of the LDK,” he says.
The analyst notes that reforming the LDK should not end with the election of a new chairman. According to him, it must bring meritocracy, open up the party and involve younger generations.
“Rama may bring a new spirit to the LDK, but this is determined not only by his name or by replacing the current chairman. The party needs not only a generational change, but also a transformation of its political culture and organizational methods. The chairman, deputy chairmen and spokespersons may change, while decision-making, relations with internal opponents and the selection of people for public positions remain unchanged. If Rama wishes to represent a new beginning, he must present clear reforms, open the party to professionals and young people, apply meritocracy in the selection of candidates and ensure genuine democracy within its structures. The LDK must also explain to citizens its political identity, the problems it seeks to solve and its concrete differences from other parties. It cannot rely forever on memories of the past, regardless of the importance of its history. History is a foundation, but it cannot replace a political program. Rama, therefore, would have to show that he seeks more than replacing one name with another and that he wants to create new ways of working that make the party more open, democratic and accountable to citizens,” Gashi says.
Speaking about the possible race for chairman, Gashi says democratic competition could serve the LDK if it does not turn into a personal confrontation and if the result is accepted.
“Rama’s candidacy could trigger clashes within the LDK, since the contest for party leadership involves not only ideas and programs, but also existing relations of influence and power. However, not every new candidacy should automatically be regarded as a source of conflict. Democracy means a clash of ideas; the problem arises when the contest is used to sideline an opponent. If Rama runs, he must explain what kind of team he will form, how he will cooperate with the existing structures and which mistakes of the previous leadership he will correct. Potential opponents, too, must understand that a party cannot seek public trust if it treats internal competition as a threat. The main risk is not that several candidates will compete for chairman, but that the winner will treat the party as his own property and the losers will use the result to leave, sabotage the new leadership or wait for the next act of retaliation. To prevent this, transparent procedures, equal conditions, open debate on programs and guarantees that the membership will not merely serve to approve decisions made earlier are needed. Unity is not achieved by suppressing disagreement, but by establishing rules that make it useful to the party. A properly managed contest could activate the membership, strengthen the organization and restore public attention. If it gets out of control, on the other hand, it could further weaken the LDK and give citizens the impression that the party is more concerned with its own positions than with their problems,” he tells “Bota sot”.
Gashi stresses that Rama must show he can continue fulfilling his duties as mayor of Pristina while building a political alternative for the entire country.
“Rama must understand that his obligation to Pristina does not lose its importance because of his ambitions to take over the leadership of the LDK. If he decides to run and seeks to hold both positions, he must explain how he will organize his time and work, and how he will ensure that his involvement in the party does not harm the administration of the capital. At the same time, he must prove that his experience in Pristina can serve as the basis for a broader political project. A mayor can be assessed on urban development, public services and city management, while the leader of a national party must also have answers on the economy, education, healthcare, justice and the country’s international orientation. This requires a capable team, a feasible program and the ability to win trust in all municipalities. Success in Pristina is an important starting point, not definitive proof of political ability. Rama must show that he can turn local support into a national project that responds to citizens’ needs and does not rely solely on his own image,” Gashi emphasizes.
In conclusion, the analyst says that Rama’s possible candidacy could open a discussion about the LDK’s future, but the necessary change is broader than the race for the chairmanship.
“If Rama officially decides to run, he should have the opportunity to compete, while the LDK should assess him on the basis of his program, team and capacity to reform the party. Nevertheless, the LDK’s future is not the responsibility of one person alone. The crisis will not be overcome simply by changing the chairman, but by changing the way the leadership is elected, the treatment of members, the selection of people for public positions and the response to citizens. The new leadership must create mechanisms that make the organization stronger than the individuals at its helm, so that the future does not depend on waiting for a figure who promises to save the party. If Rama’s candidacy becomes part of a reform project and the contest is conducted democratically, it could help revive the LDK. If the goal is limited to the chairmanship and the organization and political culture do not change, hopes for a new beginning may not be fulfilled. Parties do not lose their future only when they suffer electoral defeats; they risk losing it when they fail to understand why they have lost and do not adapt to citizens’ expectations. Thus, the LDK’s challenge is not only to determine who will lead it, but also to find a new way of conducting politics, based on greater meritocracy, responsibility and public credibility,” Eduard Gashi concludes to “Bota sot”.
