Përparim Rama Skeptical About Electing President After Kurti-Abdixhiku Agreement

Pristina Mayor Përparim Rama has expressed doubts that the agreement reached between the Vetëvendosje Movement and the LDK will lead to the election of Kosovo’s new president.

After LVV and LDK agreed that university professor and former Constitutional Court judge Bekim Sejdiu would be their joint candidate for president, Rama said he was still not convinced that the process would be successfully concluded.

He said he wants institutions to be formed and the country’s progress to continue, but developments over the past two years have made him pessimistic about reaching an agreement that would enable the election of the head of state.

Rama warned that the agreement could also be a strategy by acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

“I hope this is not another game by Albin Kurti. Unfortunately, I have serious doubts that the president will be elected. Over the past two years, he has shown that he is not interested in forming a government, meaning he is not someone who wants to govern; he is someone who, I would say, has autocratic tendencies. I do not see it happening, and I am not optimistic. I hope it does; I hope we form a government and have a president, but I am very pessimistic based on the way events have unfolded for nearly two years now,” Rama said.

Asked about Bekim Sejdiu’s candidacy, Rama said he supports electing the president if the parties have reached an agreement and if the coalition has the required number of votes.

“Of course. Look, the country needs a president, and if the parties have agreed and have the votes, then of course. We need institutions and we need to move forward; we cannot stop,” he stressed.