A new meeting between Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader Lumir Abdixhiku and Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti has been reported after six LDK MPs refused to support the parties’ agreement to back Bekim Sejdiu as Kosovo’s next president.
The internal opposition within the LDK has placed the agreement reached between Abdixhiku and Kurti under serious pressure, with the six MPs potentially depriving the proposed candidacy of the votes needed in the Assembly.
The reported meeting took place on Tuesday afternoon at the Kosovo Assembly, according to reports, following a meeting of the LDK Parliamentary Group.
Abdixhiku said the refusal of six MPs from his party to support Sejdiu’s candidacy could make another election unavoidable. The six MPs opposing the agreement are reported to be Avdullah Hoti, Hykmete Bajrami, Arben Gashi, Armend Zemaj, Kujtim Shala and Janina Ymeri.
Agreement Remains in Place, but Numbers Have Changed
Kurti has said that the political agreement between Vetëvendosje and the LDK remains valid but acknowledged that the political circumstances have changed following the rebellion within the LDK.
He said a new discussion with Abdixhiku was necessary to determine how the two sides should proceed.
“We must find the way forward,” Kurti said, according to local reporting.
Kurti added that he would not take further steps regarding the agreement without consulting Abdixhiku again and discussing the new situation with the Vetëvendosje leadership.
“The political agreement exists, but it cannot be implemented with the current numbers in the Assembly,” he said.
The agreement between Kurti and Abdixhiku, announced only days earlier, had identified Bekim Sejdiu as a consensus candidate for president and was initially seen as a possible breakthrough in Kosovo’s political deadlock.
However, the opposition of six LDK MPs has now created a new obstacle and raised the possibility that Kosovo could again be pushed toward elections if a solution cannot be found.
