Without compromise, institutions remain hostage”, Jakupi reacts after Kurti’s initiative for talks with the opposition

The leader of the Vetëvendosje Movement and current acting prime minister, Albin Kurti, announced that he has reached out to LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku and PDK leader Bedri Hamza to organize a meeting aimed at finding an agreement on the deputy speakers of the Assembly of Kosovo.

He stressed that the full formation of the legislature stalls without the election of these positions, which necessarily requires an understanding among political forces.

Speaking about the issue, Kurti said that he has already started communication with both opposition leaders. “To successfully conclude this process, the deputy speakers must also be voted on. For this we need agreement. I have contacted the LDK leader and also written to the PDK leader to meet, so that we can reach an agreement. Let us be positive and constructive,” he declared.

Kurti also commented on the stance of Serbian List MP Igor Simić, who, while proposing Slavko Simić for the deputy speaker position, stated that he was doing so “on behalf of the Serbian people”. The acting prime minister judged this expression as a violation of Kosovo’s constitutional order and the oath that the MP himself took.

“As the Speaker of the Assembly also pointed out, that statement by the Serbian List representative contradicts the country’s constitutionality and his oath. For me it was incomprehensible why he did not read the proposal exactly as he had submitted it in writing for Slavko Simić,” Kurti added.

Further, he recalled that only the proposal submitted in written form can be put to a vote in the Assembly, and mentioned the reactions of MPs to Simić’s words. “One MP from the parliamentary group said this might be his euphoria from the funeral of Ratko Mladić, the commander who massacred Bosniaks. In the Assembly, that kind of proposal expressed orally cannot be voted on, only the written one,” Kurti said.

Kurti’s initiative to sit at a table with PDK and LDK is being perceived as a signal for the start of a political dialogue and to end the institutional deadlock. This is assessed by political analyst Zejnullah Jakupi, who sees in his readiness an important indicator of the necessity of an institutional compromise.

According to Jakupi, the fact that the leader of LVV seeks a meeting with the leaders of the two largest opposition parties demonstrates that the functioning of the Assembly passes through an agreement between the parties. He explains that such a pact should not necessarily be seen as a governing coalition or power-sharing, but as a basic compromise that would pave the way for institutions to work normally.

Commenting on the invitation, Jakupi stated: “The invitation from LVV leader and acting prime minister Albin Kurti to PDK and LDK leaders Bedri Hamza and Lumir Abdixhiku to discuss the voting of the Assembly’s deputy speakers should be seen as an important political signal for the need for dialogue and overcoming the institutional blockade. The fact that Kurti is seeking a meeting with the leaders of the two opposition parties shows that an agreement among political entities is necessary to make the Assembly functional. At this stage, this should not necessarily imply any coalition agreement or co-governance, but a minimal institutional compromise that would pave the way for the normal functioning of institutions.”

Although he sees room for agreement, Jakupi acknowledges that it remains limited due to deep political mistrust between LVV, PDK, and LDK. According to him, the failure to vote on the deputy speaker candidates proved that political conflicts are still acute, but they should not become an obstacle to putting institutions to work.

“The space for compromise between LVV, PDK, and LDK exists, but it is limited. The non-voting of the candidates for Assembly deputy speakers has shown that deep political mistrust continues between the parties. However, party interests should not be placed above the need for making institutions functional. A reasonable solution would be for the parties to separate the issue of making the Assembly functional from their clashes over power. The voting of the presidency and deputy speakers can be treated as an institutional matter, while programmatic and political differences remain the subject of further parliamentary debate,” he added.

The analyst underscores that the will to find common ground must be proven with actions, not just words. If Kurti sincerely aims to break the impasse, then he must put forward specific proposals and be open to measured concessions. On the other hand, PDK and LDK should not limit themselves merely to political opposition but show institutional responsibility.

Jakupi clarified: “If chairman Kurti shows real readiness for compromise, this readiness must be accompanied by concrete proposals and reasonable concessions. At the same time, PDK and LDK must also prove that they are ready to contribute to unblocking the institutions and not just oppose LVV politically. In the event that an agreement is not reached, political responsibility cannot be automatically attributed to just one side. It should be assessed based on the concrete behavior of each entity: who offers solutions, who accepts compromise, and who refuses a reasonable agreement.”

He adds that if the head of the executive brings a concrete formula, while the opposition rejects it without offering any alternative, the burden of the blockade falls on everyone, but especially on those who refuse the solution. But Jakupi warns that the same logic applies to the Vetëvendosje Movement, if the call for talks remains merely a political maneuver without genuine compromise offers.

Speaking about the consequences of the deadlock, Jakupi says they are not just a problem of inter-party relations, but strike at the foundation of the state’s functioning and citizens’ lives. A blocked parliament, according to him, makes lawmaking, parliamentary oversight, and decision-making on vital issues difficult.

Finally, he concluded with an appeal for public reason: “The continuation of the blockade is not only a problem of political parties. It directly affects the functioning of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo. A non-functional Assembly makes it difficult to pass laws, exercise parliamentary oversight, make important decisions, and form a fully functional government. For this reason, at this moment Kosovo needs more political responsibility than party rhetoric. The parties must use this opportunity for dialogue and find a compromise that ends the blockade. No one wins politically if institutions remain paralyzed, while the ultimate cost is borne by the citizen and the state. Making institutions functional must be the first priority. Political differences can continue to be debated, but Kosovo’s institutions cannot be held hostage by the lack of political compromise.”