Despite strong media interest, the internal discussions between political leaders and parties are rarely made public. President Vjosa Osmani herself once admitted this, when asked about Albin Kurti’s attempts to form a government months ago. This week, it became clear that even she had been involved in an effort to push the state budget through before the Assembly was dissolved. LDK chairman Lumir Abdixhiku revealed that the initiative and proposal had come from him — but the plan was for the credit to go to the President. Osmani, however, never mentioned these talks during her press conference when she announced the election date.
Even though chances had always been described as slim, Osmani — when asked again about talks to form a government — turned back to her “experience,” claiming that political negotiations often take place “behind closed doors” and that even party insiders sometimes find out too late.
“I wouldn’t rush to make assumptions that forming a government will fail. There is still some time left. Let’s see. Regarding efforts by the political parties, I return to my own experience from when I was in a party. Most of these discussions between parties happen behind closed doors. Often you find out very late. Sometimes even we inside the party found out late. You remember some of those coalitions,” she said.
Osmani continued by saying that she does not interfere in “discussions between political parties,” claiming that all she can do is “wish them complete success in forming a government.”
“So, I wouldn’t suggest that there are no efforts. Just because we don’t know about them doesn’t mean they aren’t happening. I’m not sure whether such efforts exist or whether they are sufficient, because as President, I don’t interfere in discussions between political parties. All I can do is wish them full success in forming a government that will take decisions in the interest of the citizens,” Osmani added at the time.
Today, those statements have gained a “new meaning.” LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku has now confirmed that Osmani herself was part of those very “behind-the-scenes discussions” — even if not about forming a government, at least about the budget.
In his Facebook post, Abdixhiku said he had expressed to Osmani his readiness to vote on a package — one that could even be named the “President’s Package.” This package would include a three-month budget extension, the approval of the Prishtina and Gjilan laws, guaranteed salaries for RTK, and the approval of the EU Growth Plan.
“On the evening of Glauk Konjufca’s nomination, I expressed to the President my readiness for a package, which could even be named the President’s Package: with a three-month budget extension, the approval of the Prishtina and Gjilan laws, securing salaries for RTK, and passing the European Growth Plan,” he wrote.
Abdixhiku added that Osmani had continued these “secret talks” with Vetëvendosje, who responded “positively” to his idea.
“That same evening, immediately after Konjufca was mandated, the President contacted me, telling me she had communicated with the mandator, conveyed the message to Vetëvendosje, and they had reacted very positively to the idea,” he said.
Meanwhile, Osmani has been criticized by political analysts for her statements regarding the budget and RTK. They argue that her comments sound like those of a “spokesperson” for Vetëvendosje, and that she is now openly acting as part of VV’s election campaign.
