The latest attempt at cooperation between the Vetëvendosje Movement and the Democratic League of Kosovo also ended without an agreement, plunging the political scene into an even more fragile period. The deadline for finding a solution is narrowing, while the country faces major questions over the functioning of its institutions.
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LVV leader Albin Kurti and LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku met at the Assembly, but their conversation produced no agreement. After the meeting, Kurti told reporters that there had been no developments to announce, as the parties had failed to reach an agreement.
“We have no news as long as we have no agreement,” Kurti declared, adding: “Once we reach an agreement, we will be able to inform you.”
Abdixhiku did not comment to the media after the meeting.
The talks took place on Wednesday, just hours after LDK representatives announced that the party was seeking the post of president of the country.
Today, August 6, the constitutive session of the eleventh legislature of the Assembly of Kosovo is expected to be held. This session also sets in motion the constitutional deadlines for forming the new government and for the procedure to elect the president. In the absence of an agreement between the two main political forces, it remains uncertain whether the institutions will be able to function and whether Kosovo will avoid another political crisis.
Qarri: The head of state should be elected by citizens, not through party bargaining
Political analyst Gani Qarri views the current deadlock as evidence that Kosovo needs constitutional changes. In a statement to “Bota sot,” he said the president should be elected directly by citizens, as this would prevent the head of state from becoming dependent on agreements between political parties.
According to Qarri, the president should represent the unity of citizens and should not be the result of political bargaining.
“The bad experience with the current parties in reaching political consensus and creating functioning state institutions makes it necessary to amend the relevant articles of the Constitution so that the president is elected by the vote of the citizens. The president should be a symbol of the unity of the people, not a tool of political parties, which for nearly two years now have been taking the country from one election to another and leaving it without stable institutions,” he told “Bota sot.”
He recalled that the constitution of the Assembly activates the constitutional deadlines for forming the executive and electing the president. However, Qarri expressed doubts that these processes would be completed, particularly because of recent developments within the LDK.
“The narrow result of the vote on extending Lumir Abdixhiku’s mandate shows that deep divisions exist within the LDK, which could make it difficult to reach an agreement with the winning party on the election of the president, since it remains unclear whether the number of votes from this party’s deputies will remain constant,” Qarri said.
The analyst assessed that the meetings held so far between LVV and LDK had produced no concrete result. According to him, the fact that the parties have limited themselves to announcing that dialogue will continue shows that their differences remain significant.
“Despite the several-hour meetings between representatives of LVV and LDK, there was no concrete agreement. It was only said that the talks would continue, which suggests that serious uncertainties and disagreements still exist between the parties,” he emphasized.
Qarri said the LDK should have analyzed LVV’s offer of a governing coalition more carefully, taking into account the election result and its internal situation.
“The offer of the post of Assembly speaker, the position of deputy prime minister and several ministries was an opportunity that the LDK should have seriously considered. Instead, insisting solely on the post of president does not help resolve the political and institutional crisis,” Qarri declared.
As the more acceptable solution, he mentioned the election of a nonpartisan president who could be supported by the political parties and would serve the interests of citizens.
“LVV itself has publicly stated that it is ready to support a nonpartisan president. This would be the best option for the country and a real opportunity to overcome the political deadlock,” he assessed.
Qarri warned that if a solution is not found for the institutions and the presidency, the country could head toward new early elections. According to him, such a scenario would have political and economic consequences.
“If consensus is not reached on making the institutions functional and electing the president, the continuation of the institutional crisis and the possibility of new elections are at risk. This would be a heavy burden on the state budget, a test of the citizens’ patience and a situation that does not serve Kosovo’s stability and security,” Qarri concluded.
Burjani: Without an agreement with the LDK, Kosovo is heading toward elections
Analyst Blerim Burjani also described the situation as complicated. Speaking to “Bota sot,” he said that Albin Kurti has only one opportunity to avoid a new electoral process: reaching an agreement with the LDK.
According to Burjani, such an agreement should include the post of president for the LDK, as well as five ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The issue is complicated. Kurti has only one path: to give the LDK the position of president and five ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Otherwise, elections are unavoidable. The state matters more than LVV and LDK,” he said.
Burjani criticized what he described as Vetëvendosje’s stubbornness, as well as that of part of the electorate that supports this approach, even though, according to him, it is clear that Kurti is failing to establish institutions and is taking the country toward repeated elections.
“The stubbornness of VV and perhaps of the electorate that votes this way, knowing that Kurti does not deliver institutions but conflict and produces elections, is a serious problem. So, if it is known why people should vote, this issue remains open. Either the electorate becomes aware, or there is self-destruction,” Burjani said.
He emphasized that political decision-making should be guided by the state interest, rather than by party calculations or individual gains.
“Self-destruction comes from irresponsibility, political bravado and the unwillingness or failure to put the state first, rather than party and individual interests,” Blerim Burjani concluded to “Bota sot.”
