The extraordinary assembly of the Democratic League of Kosovo is expected to be held on Thursday, at a moment considered crucial for the future of the political party.

Ahead of the assembly, political activist Milazim Maraj spoke to “Bota sot,” linking the current crisis within the LDK to developments that have accumulated over the years. According to him, the party should be led by a figure with integrity and vision who embodies the spirit of former President Ibrahim Rugova’s political legacy.

Maraj said that, in his assessment, the takeover of the leadership had occurred “through a form of smuggling” and had harmed a party that enjoyed credibility not only in Kosovo but also internationally, particularly in the US, England and throughout the EU.

He stressed that the foresight of the President and the LDK lifted Kosovo out of a century-old quagmire of subjugation and transformed it into a democratic partner, a development that, according to him, had been anticipated neither by the greatest Albanian optimists nor by the greatest anti-Albanian pessimists.

According to Maraj, a group of communists emerged from that trust who not only took control of the party, but also removed from it and from Kosovo the figures who had made the greatest contributions, in some cases even through violence. He said that after this communist took over, the LDK faced a “severe communist infection,” the consequences of which it continues to suffer.

He described the clashes between those who support Isa Mustafa and his opponents as “metastases” that, according to him, are harming not only the LDK but Kosovo as a whole. Maraj said that the party’s successive defeats in both local and national elections stem precisely from this incomprehensible circle.

The political activist also said that the groups presenting themselves as either supporters or opponents of Isa Mustafa and his policies, which he describes as anti-national, are essentially the same. According to him, neither side has presented a clear alternative for pulling the LDK out of a situation that he considers both shameful and painful for Kosovo’s state-building party and for the political force that rehabilitated the country’s national politics, both at home and abroad.

Maraj noted that everyone claims to love the LDK, but the way they express this is accepted neither by the rest of the party leadership nor, even less so, by the broader electorate. He said that these positions are driven by grudges and petty interests, while the parties’ latest statements offer no indication that there are concrete options from which to choose.

According to him, membership in a political party entails patriotism and a willingness to give everything of oneself to the state through that party.

Speaking about the extraordinary assembly, Maraj said that it had been convened far too late, although he viewed the fact that it would finally be held as positive. He blamed the delay on all the extreme factions created within the LDK without any need.

He said that Dr. Lumir Abdixhiku’s “New Path” produced no positive results because, in his view, it was a dead-end path when set against a political philosophy with a vision spanning at least a century.

Maraj said that Isa Mustafa’s negative influence within the LDK remains quite strong and did not rule out the possibility that it would also be felt during this assembly. Meanwhile, according to him, the younger generation still lacks the necessary political preparation to build a reputation among the electorate, which is a consequence of how internal party elections are conducted, starting at the grassroots level.

He added that the LDK’s young members have so far appeared quite indecisive and unprepared to assume the necessary responsibilities.

Despite these observations, Maraj said that holding the assembly is more beneficial than postponing it any further. He hopes the process will produce new alternatives that are favorable for the country, amid a situation he described as highly complex and offering little hope of overcoming circumstances that are harmful to both the LDK and Kosovo.

Regarding the selection of the party leader, Maraj said that regardless of whether Lumir Abdixhiku remains at the helm or another contender is elected, the process should be conducted democratically rather than by acclamation. In this way, according to him, the winner would have the legitimacy of the vote to lead the LDK and subsequently contribute to the formation of Kosovo’s institutions.

He said that the LDK has enough qualified intellectuals capable of taking over the leadership, but that, in the name of preserving party unity, they hesitate to engage in debate or fall victim to petty interests.

According to Maraj, the person elected president of the LDK should be a capable disciple of Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, should not become involved in personal or group interests, and should possess vision, communication skills, courage and restraint in both words and actions. He stressed that the next leader must inspire confidence both domestically and internationally and must have an unblemished record.

Concluding his remarks to “Bota sot,” Maraj said that the LDK leader should find happiness among happy citizens, see the nation integrated into the EU and the world as a people with a secure future, help build peace without territorial or population losses, and respect everyone while also defending national values.

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In a reaction published on Facebook, Hoxhaj said that the day’s developments in the region should be seen as an alarm signal for Kosovo’s institutions.

He congratulated Albania on its progress in EU accession negotiations, as well as Montenegro on closing two new negotiating chapters. “Today, while Albania and Montenegro are moving closer to the European Union every day, Kosovo risks remaining last in the region on the path towards membership,” Hoxhaj wrote.

Referring to Kosovo’s situation, he said that the country has lost ground compared with the European opportunity it had several years ago.

“Until seven years ago, our country had a far more credible European perspective and enjoyed greater support from our partners. Meanwhile, for 3 years Kosovo has been waiting for someone to review its candidate country status, but it has remained in the drawers of the European Union and nobody is dealing with it,” the PDK MP wrote.

In conclusion, Hoxhaj called for European integration to be returned to the centre of Kosovo’s foreign policy. “Kosovo deserves to restore its place on the European agenda and move forward with credibility and vision,” he concluded.

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