Acting President of Kosovo Albulena Haxhiu has called on political parties to begin discussions on concrete candidates for a consensus president, saying an agreement could help resolve the country’s institutional deadlock and prevent new elections.
Haxhiu made the remarks after meeting with representatives of political parties that accepted her invitation to discuss the political situation and possible ways to overcome the institutional crisis.
“The purpose of this meeting was to see whether, under the circumstances we are in, there is a way for us to move forward together,” Haxhiu said, thanking the political leaders who attended.
She said two different political positions remain regarding the constitution of the Assembly and the election of the president.
According to Haxhiu, the Vetëvendosje Movement (LVV) and its partners believe that constituting the Assembly without first reaching an agreement on a president could lead to a repeat of last year’s crisis. The opposition parties — PDK, LDK and AAK — favor constituting the Assembly first and discussing the presidential election afterward.
Haxhiu said the meeting showed a broad willingness among political parties to work toward an agreement on the president in order to avoid another round of elections.
“I do not expect political parties to agree on everything. If we cannot reach an agreement today, there is no guarantee that new elections will make us reach an agreement tomorrow,” she said.
Haxhiu also said caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti had maintained during the meeting that he has the necessary votes to become speaker of the Assembly, leaving the presidential issue as the main obstacle to resolving the political deadlock.
“Prime Minister Kurti emphasized that he has the votes for speaker of the Assembly, and the issue is the agreement on the president,” Haxhiu said.
She urged political parties to move toward discussions on specific names for a consensus candidate, arguing that such an approach could help break the institutional impasse.
Haxhiu reiterated that LVV is prepared to support a consensus president as part of an effort to avoid new elections and find a political solution to Kosovo’s ongoing institutional crisis.
