Arben Gashi announced that the LDK will take part in the voting process.

According to him, the issue of electing the Speaker of the Assembly has been reviewed several times by the Constitutional Court.

Gashi said there was no need to refer matters to the court every time, stressing that the obstacle was not the Constitutional Court’s rulings but a lack of political will.

“We will go into the chamber, take part in the vote and move forward,” he declared.

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Veton Berisha, an MP elected from the Egyptian Liberal Party, said he would vote in support of the President as soon as the nominee’s name is presented to the Assembly.

“What matters to me is that the state functions. I also support the President; I have no issue with anyone,” Berisha said briefly before the start of the constitutive session.

Meanwhile, MPs have begun arriving in the chamber for the session, which was scheduled to begin at 10:00.

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Emilia Rexhepi, an elected member of the Kosovo Assembly representing the Bosniak community, said lawmakers have a duty today to elect the speaker and deputy speakers of the Assembly by vote.

Ahead of the constituent session, Rexhepi described it as an important day for all citizens of the Republic of Kosovo and a solemn and special moment for MPs.

She stressed that MPs must vote for the parliamentary leadership, thereby paving the way for the formation of the government.

Asked whether she would be included in the new government cabinet, Rexhepi said she did not yet know, as today’s focus was on the parliamentary vote.

The MP was also asked whether she had held talks on the matter with acting Prime Minister and leader of the Vetëvendosje Movement Albin Kurti.

Rexhepi said they meet regularly.

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Delegates of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) have concluded voting at the extraordinary Assembly, where a request by a group of delegates to dismiss party leader Lumir Abdixhiku was considered.

With voting now closed, the ballot boxes have been opened and counting has begun. The result will show whether the initiative to remove Abdixhiku has secured the necessary support from Assembly delegates.

The extraordinary meeting was marked by debates and clashes among delegates, while discussions in the hall were halted before voting began.

Earlier in the day, Peja Mayor Gazmend Muhaxheri said the voting was proceeding calmly and democratically. He also announced that several branches had already completed the process.

Attention has now shifted to the vote count and the announcement of the final result of this internal LDK process.

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Voting has begun at the Assembly of the Democratic League of Kosovo to decide whether party leader Lumir Abdixhiku will be dismissed.

The media were not allowed to remain in the hall after Abdixhiku finished his speech. Meanwhile, KP has learned from its sources that MP and assembly member Armend Zemaj delivered a speech in which he listed Abdixhiku’s failures during his leadership of the LDK.

An LDK delegate from Gjilan also intervened in the discussion, accusing those who are “dissatisfied” within the party of seeking to tear down their own house.

The speech was subsequently cut short after a decision was made to end the debate and proceed directly to the vote. The process is currently underway, with the 327 delegates being called by name one by one to cast their ballots in secret.

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On the other hand, opposition parties trailed significantly behind in terms of support from the diaspora, sparking debate about the relationship they have with citizens living outside Kosovo.

In a statement to “Bota sot,” Dashnim Hebibi, president of the Helvetic Scientific Institute for Southeast Europe based in Switzerland, said that the diaspora’s support for LVV did not come by chance, but is the product of a long political and social development.

According to him, the diaspora, especially the younger generations, expects functioning institutions, a fight against corruption, and economic development. This, he believes, is precisely what has led LVV to win the trust of a large part of the diaspora, as it is seen as a force for change and reform.

“The diaspora vote in these elections once again proved that the diaspora remains a decisive factor in Kosovo’s politics. Its support for the Vetëvendosje Movement is not simply the result of an election campaign, but a reflection of a longer political, emotional, and social process that has taken place over the years.

The Albanian diaspora, although physically far from the homeland, continues to keep Kosovo in its heart. The first and second generations of the diaspora have a strong emotional connection with the country because they experienced firsthand the period of occupation, the resistance, the war, and the road to independence. They know the price of freedom and the contribution the diaspora made at the most important moments in our history.

However, today we are facing a new reality. The third and fourth generations of the diaspora do not see Kosovo only through the emotions and memories of their parents or grandparents. They want concrete results, economic development, functioning institutions, a fight against corruption, and a European perspective. For them, patriotism is not measured only by words, but by achievements.

This is one of the reasons why a large part of the diaspora has identified with the discourse of the Vetëvendosje Movement. LVV has managed to create the perception that it represents change, the fight against corruption, and a fairer approach to the state. For many emigrants, especially young people, this message has been more convincing than the offers of the traditional parties,” he said.

Hebibi further stresses that the diaspora does not constitute a single political body and should not be viewed that way. According to him, the diaspora is diverse and demands respect, representation, and concrete results, not attention only during election periods.

He criticizes parties in Kosovo, saying they have lost their continuous connection with the diaspora and remember it only when campaigns begin. He also underscores that the diaspora has made a major contribution to preserving the language and culture, but today faces a lack of institutional support, which threatens the identity of the younger generations.

“However, the diaspora cannot be identified with a single political entity. The Albanian diaspora is much larger, more diverse, and more advanced than to be reduced to support for a single party. It includes university professors, academics, entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, and activists from all political convictions. It does not vote as a single bloc, but as a community seeking respect, representation, and concrete results.

The main problem is that the traditional parties, especially the opposition, have lost ongoing contact with the diaspora. During the time of President Ibrahim Rugova, ties with the diaspora were constant and not only during election campaigns. The diaspora felt part of political and national processes. Today, many citizens abroad have the impression that they are remembered only when elections approach.

For many years, Kosovo’s governments have organized meetings, events, and visits in the diaspora, but often without concrete results. Many words of thanks have been offered for the diaspora’s contribution, but very few long-term projects that would strengthen its ties with the homeland.

One aspect that is often forgotten is that the Albanian diaspora has not always waited for help from institutions. On the contrary, it has organized itself. For decades, emigrants have created associations, organizations, clubs, and professional networks that have kept the national identity alive. In many countries in Europe and around the world, Albanian cultural and artistic societies have been the best ambassadors of our culture. They have organized concerts, festivals, commemorative academies, sports activities, and national events, keeping the Albanian spirit alive far from the homeland.

Just as great has been the contribution of supplementary Albanian-language schools. For many years, teachers and diaspora activists have worked voluntarily to teach the Albanian language to younger generations. Thanks to them, thousands of Albanian children have preserved their connection to their language, culture, and history. However, today supplementary Albanian-language schools face a lack of funding, a shortage of staff, and insufficient institutional support. In many countries, a decline in interest is being observed, and the risk of losing the Albanian language is becoming increasingly serious.

Many young Albanians born outside Kosovo speak Albanian with difficulty or mixed with the language of the country where they live. This is not their fault, but the result of the lack of a long-term strategy to preserve national identity in the diaspora. That is precisely why much more should be invested in supplementary Albanian education, in modern school textbooks, and in programs that make language learning more attractive to younger generations,” Hebibi said.

In the end, he assesses that the diaspora remains almost invisible in Kosovo’s media and that its activities do not receive sufficient coverage. As a solution, he proposes establishing a special diaspora editorial desk at RTK and creating a sustainable media platform that would bring the diaspora closer to the country.

According to Hebibi, Kosovo should leave behind mere rhetoric and move toward concrete, long-term policies for the diaspora.

“Another serious problem is the lack of coverage of diaspora life in Kosovo’s public media. Every year, hundreds of cultural, artistic, sports, educational, and humanitarian activities are organized by Albanians in the diaspora, but most of them remain almost invisible to public opinion in Kosovo.

For this reason, Radio Television of Kosovo should create a special editorial desk for the diaspora, with a regular news and documentary program. Such an editorial team would report on diaspora activities, the successes of Albanians around the world, the challenges of our communities, and initiatives that strengthen ties with the homeland. This would help the diaspora feel closer to Kosovo and at the same time inspire younger generations with success stories and positive role models.

In the past, TV Diaspora existed, an important project aimed at bringing the diaspora closer to its homeland. However, it survived with difficulty due to the lack of consistent institutional support. This shows that Kosovo needs a strong media and digital platform for the diaspora, supported by the state and public institutions.

Therefore, the time has come for Kosovo to build new and serious policies for the diaspora. Words and ceremonies are no longer enough. There must be concrete projects that serve the younger generations.”

“Kosovo needs:

• a Museum of the Albanian Diaspora;

• a National Library of the Diaspora;

• special university programs for young people in the diaspora;

• cultural and educational summer camps;

• funds for preserving the Albanian language;

• Albanian cultural centers in countries with a large concentration of the diaspora;

• programs linking diaspora professionals with Kosovo’s institutions;

• a public media platform for the diaspora and a permanent editorial desk at RTK;

• special programs to support supplementary Albanian-language schools.

. Albanian universities

Another issue that deserves serious debate is the political representation of the diaspora. Given the historical, economic, and national contribution of the diaspora, the possibility of reserving seats in the Assembly of Kosovo for representatives elected directly by the diaspora should be considered. A model with 5 to 7 MPs would ensure that its interests and problems are addressed institutionally.

It should not be forgotten that without the diaspora, Kosovo would not be what it is today. The diaspora financed the resistance, supported the liberation war, contributed to state-building, and continues to be one of the main economic pillars through remittances and investments.

However, the diaspora too is growing tired. The generations that kept the connection with the homeland alive are aging. If no concrete steps are taken to bring the younger generations closer to Kosovo, there is a risk that the emotional bond will gradually weaken.

Kosovo’s greatest challenge is not only preserving ties with today’s diaspora, but winning the hearts and minds of tomorrow’s diaspora. This requires vision, strategy, and concrete action.

Therefore, the question is not only why the diaspora votes more for LVV. The more important question is: what are all political parties and Kosovo’s institutions doing to avoid losing the future generations of the Albanian diaspora?

Because the diaspora is not simply an electorate. It is an inseparable part of the Albanian nation, one of Kosovo’s most precious assets, and a force that still continues to make an extraordinary contribution to the country’s future,” he concluded for “Bota sot.”

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