Spahiu on developments after July 6: The opposition would be foolish to enter a governing coalition

The certification of the final results of the June 7 parliamentary elections is expected to take place on July 6, paving the way for the start of the process of creating new institutions in Kosovo.

Acting Prime Minister and at the same time leader of the Vetëvendosje Movement, Albin Kurti, has announced that the party he leads will not hold talks with political parties on a governing coalition or other political issues until the certification of the results is first completed.

“First we must wait for the certification of the election results and the handling of complaints, and then, without losing time, we will have the necessary communications and discussions,” Kurti said.

At the same time, opposition parties have laid out their positions on the possibility of a political agreement, especially regarding the election of the country’s president.

Deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo, Lutfi Haziri, told Radio Free Europe that the 18 votes of LDK deputies can be unified only if the post of president is given to this party.

According to Haziri, the name that would be nominated must come from the LDK.

“If that name is Lumiri (Abdixhiku) or my name, then we can unify. Lumiri is first according to official duty, because he is the chairman. After Lumiri, I have the greatest consensus within the LDK,” Haziri said.

He also underlined that for the moment there is only one official address for negotiations with the LDK.

“Only with Lumir Abdixhiku. He is the chairman. Until then there is only one address and there is no second address,” Haziri said.

On the other hand, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo has presented six conditions which, according to it, must be accepted by the Vetëvendosje Movement if it seeks this party’s support for the establishment of new institutions.

AAK leader Ardian Gjini said the party he represents does not aim to enter the government, but is ready to help unblock the political situation only if a written agreement is reached on the country’s main priorities.

“We will not do it just because one person is seeking to become prime minister or president. We will do it only if there is a clear, written commitment for what I mentioned,” Gjini said.

According to AAK, these conditions include accepting the American gas project as a strategic project, launching procedures for the construction of a coal-fired power plant, raising the VAT threshold for businesses, removing property tax on cultivated agricultural land, financing suspended infrastructure projects, as well as creating an emergency fund of 800 million to 1 billion euros for investments in Pristina.

Gjini clarified that AAK has not set Ramush Haradinaj’s candidacy for president as a condition, although according to him he would be the best candidate for the post.

“If there is a need for a quorum, we will provide the quorum. We are asking for nothing. If Ramush Haradinaj were to run for president, this would not change our formula. It would be an honor, but we do not want to block the country,” he said.

As the certification of the results approaches, it remains unclear whether the country will move toward a governing coalition or whether the Vetëvendosje Movement will try to form the government with the support of individual deputies.

On this issue, political analyst Nexhmedin Spahiu told “Bota sot” that a formal governing coalition is not necessary.

“There is no reason for a coalition. Albin Kurti has the necessary numbers to form the government. It would be foolish for the other parties to offer a governing coalition. Their ministers could be dismissed by Kurti as soon as the president is elected, or later they would end up joining Vetëvendosje,” Spahiu told “Bota sot”.

It should be recalled that in the June 7 elections, first place went to the Vetëvendosje Movement in a pre-election coalition with Guxo and Alternativa, with 47.13% and 53 seats. The Democratic Party of Kosovo received 19.44% and 22 seats, the Democratic League of Kosovo 16.69% and 18 seats, while the Alliance won seven seats with 6.74%.