Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Lumir Abdixhiku, has explained why he rejected two offers from Prime Minister and Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti regarding the formation of a governing agreement and the election of the president.
Following Monday’s meeting with Kurti, Abdixhiku said LDK cannot enter co-governance with Kurti while also voting for a Vetëvendosje candidate for president.
According to him, the president of Kosovo cannot be an extension of the government, which is why the party also rejected the second offer, which proposed that LDK take the position of Speaker of Parliament in exchange for supporting Glauk Konjufca as head of state.
Abdixhiku described the meetings with Kurti as closed, saying there is an agreement not to meet again.
“In both cases there was insistence that the presidency remain with Vetëvendosje. This is the reason we had a blockade even before the Constitutional Court ruling. This proposal is unacceptable for LDK. Since Kurti insisted on keeping the presidency and holding all three key institutions, LDK cannot continue contributing to this process. We do not want to waste anyone’s time or the time of Kosovo’s citizens. LDK is out of the discussion process regarding the presidency… From the beginning, LDK’s principles have been clear: the president of Kosovo must not be an extension of the government. There cannot be a government that also has a party president as head of state,” he said.
When asked whether any other names for president were discussed, Abdixhiku said Kurti insisted only on Konjufca.
He added that the country is heading toward new elections.
“We were discussing the presidency issue. I rejected everything else without addressing that issue. The problem is the presidency, not the government. Kosovo has a government and parliament, but not a president. We cannot propose someone when there is insistence that the presidency remains with one party. With LDK, LVV did not discuss any name other than Glauk Konjufca,” he said.
However, Abdixhiku said that with only a few days left of the constitutional deadline, other parliamentary parties may try to find a solution, while for LDK the matter of electing the president is closed.
“There are still seven days left for other parties to find a solution, even without LDK. Effectively, LDK will return to its other structures and considers this matter closed… We agreed not to meet again because there is no reason to meet,” he said.
Abdixhiku was also asked about Vjosa Osmani and her potential return to LDK, saying he is working toward that goal.
“Reconciliation would be good news for Kosovo and it is my goal, and I will work toward it until the last day… Of course I meet Vjosa; we are friends and know each other well. There are no conditions; unity requires rapprochement, coordination, and a serious vision for the future… LDK is united. Unity and totalitarianism have different meanings. We are a democratic party in essence, but united in positions because we respect the majority decision,” he said.
