Kosovo’s ruling Vetëvendosje Movement (LVV) and the opposition Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) do not plan to resume talks in the coming days over the election of the country’s new president, following Bekim Sejdiu’s withdrawal from the presidential race.
LDK, which holds 18 seats in the Kosovo Assembly, says it sees no reason to meet with representatives of the ruling LVV before the Constitutional Court issues a decision on whether the constitution of the 11th legislature was carried out in accordance with the Constitution.
“No meetings without a decision from the Constitutional Court,” LDK deputy leader Lutfi Haziri told Radio Free Europe on September 15.
Sources within LVV also confirmed the suspension of the talks, saying no meeting with LDK representatives has been scheduled for this week.
The development comes after the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), the largest opposition party, referred the Assembly’s constitution process to the Constitutional Court on September 14, also requesting an interim measure.
PDK said it challenged the election procedure for the Assembly speaker and deputy speakers, arguing that the ruling party violated constitutional deadlines during the process of constituting the legislature.
The Constitutional Court told Radio Free Europe that PDK’s request concerning the constitution of the Assembly has been joined with another request filed by the party regarding the formation of the government and that both cases are being processed together.
The agreement reached between LVV and LDK on August 31 to nominate Bekim Sejdiu for president collapsed on September 14 after Sejdiu withdrew from the race, acknowledging that he did not have enough votes to be elected.
Six LDK MPs had publicly opposed voting for Sejdiu. According to Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Sejdiu had the support of only 74 MPs, while at least 80 MPs must be present in the Assembly for the presidential vote to be valid.
“In the circumstances that have emerged, characterized by the lack of the necessary parliamentary support for my election as president, and by the entire process being dragged into a vortex of internal political dynamics and clashes, I have decided to withdraw my candidacy for President of the Republic of Kosovo,” Sejdiu wrote on Facebook on Monday.
Following his withdrawal, the political parties will need to reach a new agreement on a presidential candidate. If the Assembly fails to elect a president, Kosovo could face new elections—potentially its fourth election within two years.
Political analyst Dritëro Arifi said LVV and LDK should not resume negotiations before the Constitutional Court rules on the legitimacy of the newly constituted Assembly from which the president would be elected.
“I don’t think it would be good for negotiations to continue. What if we return to square one? Everything would have been pointless,” Arifi told Radio Free Europe.
However, if the Constitutional Court determines that the Assembly’s constitution was lawful, Arifi believes an agreement on the president could be reached quickly, provided there is political will.
“Now we have to wait, because if the court’s decision is positive, it is very simple. Everything could be concluded within an hour,” he said.
LVV and LDK—the only opposition party that agreed to negotiate with the election winner over the presidency—have not disclosed the other names discussed before they settled on Sejdiu.
Arifi believes that, under the current circumstances, when the two parties eventually return to negotiations, nominating an LDK MP who is acceptable to all MPs and to LVV could be the most practical solution for completing the formation of Kosovo’s new institutions.
The 60-day deadline for electing the president began on September 13, when the Assembly declared its constitution process complete. Acting President Albulena Haxhiu’s mandate, meanwhile, expires on October 4.
