The acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, commented for the first time on the political developments and the deadlock in the Assembly, rejecting the proposal of LDK leader, Lumir Abdixhiku, for a transitional government, emphasizing that he is interested in forming a normal government.
In his speech during the meeting of the General Council of the Vetëvendosje Movement (LVV), Kurti explained his efforts to create a coalition with LDK, following the second invitation he sent to this party after the requests of some LDK deputies for a political agreement. He explained that he had initially expected that cooperation with LDK would be easier, but that didn’t happen.
“To help get out of this blockade, I invited the leaders of PDK and LDK parties, but the latter refused to come, even though some LDK deputies said there should be a political agreement. For this, I also wrote another letter for a LVV-LDK coalition, but that too was rejected,” Kurti emphasized.
He added that LDK, which in 2020 had formed a coalition with LVV, now, after reforms, would have found it easier to enter a new coalition, but that hasn’t happened.
He made it clear that LVV wants to form a regular government, not a temporary or transitional one. “Honestly, this phrase is paradoxical because the opposition exists to be the opposition to the government,” Kurti said.
Regarding the failure to form the Assembly for the 13th time, Kurti declared that there is no institutional crisis, but a constitutional vacuum.
He clarified that other institutions in Kosovo are functioning normally, while the new Assembly hasn’t been constituted yet because the Constitution doesn’t clearly foresee the procedure when the candidate for Speaker of the Assembly fails to get 61 votes.
“The Assembly is not formed by the winner, whether absolute or relative. But since we are the winners, the position of the Speaker belongs to us. The Assembly is the responsibility of everyone,” he stressed.
Kurti expressed that his party has not blocked the process and has proposed Albulena Haxhiu’s candidacy and voted for her.
He emphasized that some opposition deputies who had previously opposed LVV’s proposal are now boycotting the vote to block the election of the Speaker of the Assembly. According to Kurti, LVV has no intention of changing Haxhiu’s name for Speaker, despite PDK and AAK being willing to vote for other names.
“Blockage comes from those who vote against or boycott the vote. We are not blockers, but voters. Let others save their proposals for when their turn comes – we will respect them,” he said.
Kurti also stressed that despite the possibility of repeat elections, their results will remain unchanged and could deepen for Vetëvendosje. “Elections may be repeated, but the result not only may be repeated but could also deepen for Vetëvendosje,” he declared.
The acting Prime Minister expressed concern about the boycott of the secret votes for Speaker of the Assembly by opposition deputies, emphasizing that over 60 deputies are not participating in the vote, thus blocking the process of forming the Assembly.
“Kosovo has a government, has ministers, has an acting prime minister – but does not have a functional Assembly. Let’s do this as soon as possible, without delays,” Kurti concluded.
At the end of his speech, he attacked LDK, mentioning their practices during the election campaign, such as transporting people by bus from city to city. Kurti emphasized that LVV won 42.3% of the votes without using such practices, and that this victory is the result of the tireless commitment of his party’s activists.
Decline in Media Freedom Index
The Prime Minister also spoke about the publication of the annual report by the organization “Reporters Without Borders,” which ranks Kosovo 99th out of 180 countries in media freedom – the lowest position in the last 15 years.
Kurti dismissed the findings of the report, insisting that freedom of expression and the press exist in Kosovo, and blamed the media and how they operate for the decline in the index.
“It is regrettable to see the deep decline in the media index. In Kosovo, there is freedom of expression and media freedom, I am a witness to this from experience and life here,” Kurti expressed.
