Prime Minister Albin Kurti has called on the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) to secure at least half of its parliamentary votes for presidential candidate Bekim Sejdiu, offering in return to proceed with the second reading of the draft law on the Specialist Chambers on Thursday.
“If PDK publicly commits to securing at least half of the votes of its deputies for Bekim Sejdiu, since we have the other part together with the LDK, then we will proceed with the second reading. We ask them to make that commitment publicly,” Kurti said.
He said that if the president is elected during Tuesday’s session, he would publicly commit to ensuring that the Specialist Chambers bill is voted on in the second reading on Thursday morning.
“Let us elect the president tonight, and I publicly commit that the draft law on the Specialist Chambers will pass on Thursday morning. We will vote on it in the second reading,” Kurti said, adding that the procedure would respect the 72-hour requirement under the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure.
Kurti Awaits Response From Political Parties
Speaking about the evening session, which comes as the constitutional deadline for electing a president expires, Kurti said he would consult with the Vetëvendosje movement but argued that other political parties should now respond to his proposal.
“The logical order of steps is for us to receive an answer to this additional offer I made,” Kurti said.
He questioned whether political parties were prepared to leave Kosovo without a president, with the possibility of the country being headed toward new elections.
Kurti also commented on Monday’s protest and the conduct of the Kosovo Police and its Special Intervention Unit, saying that police had shown a high degree of tolerance.
“If you watch the footage of the conduct of the police officers, you can see that the police are considerably more tolerant than they were at that time,” Kurti said, referring to the period when Vetëvendosje organized protests.
Kurti Links Presidential Vote to State Strategy on Hague Verdicts
Kurti also argued that failure to elect a president and the resulting possibility of early elections could hinder Kosovo’s ability to develop what he described as a state and national strategy in response to the first-instance convictions of four former KLA leaders by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.
He stressed that his government had not linked the Hague proceedings to Kosovo’s internal political issues or the presidential election, describing them as separate matters that nevertheless represent issues of state and national interest.
“The issue of the sentencing of the KLA leaders in The Hague has never been linked by us to the internal political issues here, nor to the issue of the president. For us, these are separate issues. But both are matters of common state and national interest,” Kurti said.
He said the legal proceedings would require time, political engagement and preparation, particularly with appeals expected to be pursued.
Kurti argued that if the presidential election fails, Kosovo could enter an early-election process within hours, leaving institutions unable to focus on what he described as an urgent appeal process.
“We believe in correction on appeal and, on the other hand, in a state and national strategy to win this battle,” he said, adding that the appeal process would need to be addressed this month rather than postponed until next year.
Kurti again summarized his position by saying: “The law is urgent, but the president is an emergency. The president must be elected today; the law can be voted on afterward.”
Kurti Criticizes Hamza, Says PDK Has Not Reciprocated
Kurti also criticized PDK Chairman Bedri Hamza after Hamza said he would no longer meet with the Vetëvendosje leader.
Kurti said the two sides had left open the possibility of another meeting following their discussions on Monday, but claimed Hamza had now rejected further talks.
“I have not spoken until now during these four meetings we have had. I wanted and still want an agreement and transparency in the negotiating process, but definitely confidentiality of the talks. But Bedri Hamza has given us an ultimatum and refuses to meet. Therefore, we have no other option but to address you in this way,” Kurti said.
He claimed that Vetëvendosje had taken four steps toward PDK while receiving no reciprocal steps from the opposition party.
“We took four steps toward them, and PDK took not a single step toward us. This is unfair and unhelpful,” Kurti said.
The statements come amid an unresolved political standoff over the election of Kosovo’s president and the timing of the second reading of amendments to the Specialist Chambers law.
