Deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Lutfi Haziri, has voiced his opposition to Serbia holding elections on Kosovo’s territory, stressing that the country must continue the process of dismantling the remaining structures of Serbian institutions.
Serbia is expected to hold elections on October 25. Since 2021, the Kurti Government has not allowed Serbian elections to be held on Kosovo’s territory. Meanwhile, in the north of the country, the conduct of election campaigns was also prevented several days ago.
“Of course not, under no circumstances. There are remnants of Serbian institutions in Kosovo, remnants and relics, but the dismantling of the institutions of Serbia and the former Yugoslavia began and took place on June 12, 1999. All the remnants that have continued to pose problems for us are only a matter of time before they are removed, and they will eventually be eliminated entirely.
“What we must guarantee is that every citizen of Kosovo has the right to live in their homeland, to enjoy a good life there, to be treated equally and to integrate with confidence into the institutions of the Republic,” Haziri said.
Haziri expressed scepticism about the prospects for progress in the Kosovo–Serbia dialogue, despite the functioning of Kosovo’s institutions.
He attributed primary responsibility for the obstacles and instability in the process to Serbia.
“Of course, we do not have high expectations. Serbia is the main source of the obstacles emerging in this relationship and the primary source of instability. However, it is part of their foreign and domestic policy doctrine not to resolve any outstanding issues with Kosovo.
“It should be our main interest to resolve these outstanding issues as soon as possible, allowing Kosovo to move forward independently in this regard.
“Serbia will continue to be a source of instability. It will continue building what we are witnessing today: 47 to 48 military barracks around the border. What did you expect Serbia to build, hubs for artificial intelligence? This is nothing new; it is an old policy.
“They will continue to operate according to the principle of doing everything against Kosovo’s independence, while we must operate according to the principle of doing everything for Kosovo’s independence,” he said.
Haziri also commented on the developments that preceded the election of President Justina Shiroka-Pula.
He argued that the Vetëvendosje Movement has no difficulty cooperating with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), referring to the political developments of October 6.
Discussing the LDK’s role in opposition, Haziri said his party would not engage in meaningless political confrontations but would instead focus on improving governance and ensuring the proper functioning of state institutions.
He criticised what he described as a political competition to make the situation worse, stressing that the opposition should prioritise the interests of citizens.
2027 to Be a Year of Internal Party Elections
Haziri also announced that 2027 would be a year of internal elections within the LDK, expressing confidence that the process could pave the way for the party’s return to prominence on Kosovo’s political scene.
He said that, in the absence of political elections for state institutions, the next political contest would take place within the party itself.
