Bekim Sejdiu has withdrawn his candidacy for President of Kosovo, saying the lack of sufficient parliamentary support and the escalation of political disagreements had diverted the process from its intended purpose of resolving the country’s institutional deadlock.
Sejdiu said he was contacted about two weeks ago by representatives of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and invited to a joint meeting with delegations led by the leaders of LDK and the Vetëvendosje Movement (LVV).
According to Sejdiu, he was informed that, following an extensive process of negotiations, the two parties had agreed to propose him as a non-partisan candidate for president.
He described the nomination as a significant vote of confidence and thanked both parties for their support throughout the process.
Sejdiu said he accepted the candidacy because of what he described as the difficult situation facing Kosovo and the risk that the country’s institutional crisis could deepen.
He stressed that he had no ambitions for political office beyond his academic and professional career and that his primary motivation for accepting the nomination had been to help break the institutional deadlock.
“I have never considered personal comfort and intellectual indifference to be options when the need to serve the country arises, especially in times of crisis,” Sejdiu said.
He added that he had believed Kosovo’s parliamentary parties and MPs would be able to overcome political divisions and other interests in order to establish stable institutions.
However, Sejdiu said the circumstances had changed, citing insufficient parliamentary support for his election and what he described as the process becoming caught up in internal political disputes.
“Under the circumstances that have been created, characterized by the lack of the necessary parliamentary support for my election as President and the diversion of the entire process into the vortex of internal political dynamics and confrontations, I have decided to withdraw my candidacy for President of the Republic of Kosovo,” he said.
Sejdiu said he had already informed representatives of both LDK and LVV of his decision.
He also thanked colleagues, friends, public figures, civil society representatives and, in particular, members of the Albanian diaspora in the United States for the broad support he received in recent days.
Sejdiu said the experience had reinforced his commitment to what he described as institutional loyalty and constitutional patriotism, particularly the protection of Kosovo’s Constitution.
He urged political parties to avoid further polarization and instead focus on finding a way out of the current crisis.
“The Republic of Kosovo and its citizens do not need political drama and deepening polarization, but maturity and unity in the service of strengthening our state,” Sejdiu said.
He expressed hope that Kosovo’s political parties would find a solution to what he called a “vicious circle” that was increasingly weakening citizens’ hopes for a prosperous future.
Sejdiu’s withdrawal comes amid a continuing institutional crisis over the election of Kosovo’s president, with political parties still divided over how to secure the parliamentary support required to complete the process.
