No Agreement After Nearly Three Hours, Kasolli: Abdixhiku’s Approach Made It Easier for LVV to Find Scapegoats

Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Democratic League of Kosovo leader Lumir Abdixhiku met on Tuesday as part of efforts to establish the new institutions. The talks, which lasted nearly three hours, ended without an agreement.

This was their second meeting since the certification of the June 7 election results. Kurti described the discussion as constructive, although he confirmed that the parties had not reached any political agreement.

According to Kurti, the meeting addressed current political developments, the institutional situation and the challenges ahead. He said both parties share a number of concerns, while there is also willingness and readiness for future cooperation.

The acting prime minister said communication among political parties should be standard practice and should be used to find solutions despite differences. He added that reaching an agreement would be news, but no such agreement currently exists. According to him, different approaches and the options ahead were examined, while the country needs a political agreement that respects the election result and translates it into institutional stability.

Abdixhiku, meanwhile, said that if no agreement is secured by August 6, the process of constituting the Assembly must proceed. He said the LDK is not seeking the post of Assembly speaker, as it considers it a ceremonial position that, in accordance with the Constitution, should be filled by a nominee from the largest party. According to him, there is more time for the other issues, but an earlier resolution would be better.

The LDK leader described the meeting as positive and confirmed his party’s readiness to continue talks in the coming days. He stressed that the LDK had entered the discussions in good faith, recognizing the election result and seeking to avoid another election process.

The meeting between Kurti and Abdixhiku was held after negotiations had been suspended by the LDK leader. They resumed after Abdixhiku survived the no-confidence motion and remained at the helm of the party.

Analyst Afrim Kasolli, speaking to “Bota sot,” said Abdixhiku had managed to defeat the motion by relying on the claim that he had made every effort to prevent another institutional deadlock and, potentially, new snap elections.

According to Kasolli, Abdixhiku had also offered LDK structures, weary of remaining in opposition, the possibility of being catapulted into power. During the suspension of negotiations with the Vetëvendosje Movement due to the challenge to his leadership, the LDK leader accused the rebel wing within the party of deepening the crisis through an initiative “instigated from outside.” The analyst emphasized that during that period, Abdixhiku did not at any point direct criticism of this nature at the Vetëvendosje Movement.

Kasolli also said that LVV had reinforced the narrative that simply reconfirming Lumir Abdixhiku as head of the LDK would be enough for everything to proceed smoothly. However, according to him, after three hours of negotiations, everything was turned upside down, and the two leaders walked away only with a pledge that discussions would continue, including after the Assembly is constituted and, possibly, after the government is put to a vote.

In the analyst’s assessment, the LDK under Abdixhiku has agreed to act entirely according to the Vetëvendosje Movement’s scenario. Under this arrangement, responsibility for constituting the Assembly and forming the new government rests with the party that won the election, while the election of the new president remains a burden for all the other political parties. Kasolli warned that if no political agreement is reached on this issue, new snap elections will become unavoidable.

In conclusion, Kasolli said the LDK’s attempt to absolve itself of responsibility for this possible scenario has had two consequences: the party has further embraced the government’s narrative while, at the same time, making it easier for those in power to find “the usual scapegoats.”