Arbërie Nagavci, head of the parliamentary group of Lëvizja Vetëvendosje, said that there is currently no official stance on a specific candidate for President of Kosovo, despite public speculation mentioning Vjosa Osmani or members of the Jashari family.
Nagavci emphasized that, as also stated by Prime Minister Albin Kurti, the presidential election process requires intensive political discussions and securing at least 80 votes in the Assembly before the constitutional deadline of March 4.
According to her, Vetëvendosje and its governing partners have not yet put forward an official candidate, noting that a name will only be made public after consultations with other parliamentary groups are completed.
Nagavci explained that there is currently no candidate known to have full support to proceed with the vote, stressing that Kurti will continue discussions with party leaders, MPs, and political groups to ensure that at least 80 deputies are present and ready to vote when the process begins.
She also recalled that the situation differs from the 2021 elections, when the coalition publicly mentioned Osmani as its presidential candidate during the campaign. In contrast, during the 2025 elections, no specific name was presented beforehand, making broader political consensus necessary this time.
Nagavci underlined that electing the president within the constitutional deadline is essential for maintaining institutional stability, noting that Kosovo has recently gone through several election cycles and that institutions operated for a period under a caretaker government.
When asked about names circulating in public debate, including figures from the Jashari family, she reiterated that there is no official position yet, adding that the candidate will be announced only after successful consultations with other parliamentary groups.
She further explained that the priority is to secure at least 80 guaranteed votes in order to avoid any unexpected developments that could push the country toward new elections.
In recent days, Kurti has held meetings with Lumir Abdixhiku, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo, and Bedri Hamza, head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, to discuss possible agreements regarding the presidential vote.
Kurti has acknowledged that the situation remains complex, but said efforts are being made to avoid new elections. He noted that none of the major parties currently has an official candidate, and that the goal should be to secure not only 80 votes, but up to 85 to prevent potential failures in the process due to absences.
The mandate of the current president, Osmani, expires on April 4, while the constitutional deadline to elect a new head of state is March 4. If the Assembly fails to elect a president within that timeframe, the country would be required to hold new parliamentary elections within 45 days.
