The leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Lumir Abdixhiku, declared that his party may nominate Vjosa Osmani for President of the country, a post that has created a stalemate and the political parties are unable to reach an agreement.
He made this comment in response to a public invitation from Albin Kurti's Vetevendosje Movement, a party that stated that it would withdraw its candidacies and that the two main opposition parties, LDK and PDK, propose three names for the President. According to the LVV, this proposal is made to avoid another electoral process in the country.
Abdixhiku emphasized that if Prime Minister Albin Kurti wants a political agreement with the LDK, then they can propose Vjosa Osmani.
"If he wanted a political agreement with the LDK and wants a political agreement with the LDK, then the LDK can propose names. We don't need to propose three, we propose one. It could be Vjosa Osmani, but let him show us the 66 votes for this name. It could be, but that political agreement between us must be established at some point. Or do you want 90 votes? He doesn't have 90 votes right away.
Since there are not 90 votes immediately, then this seems like a political maneuver to me, but let PDK deal with this, let them show it, and then we will respond together with our 15 votes. My proposal has always been a political agreement, but a political agreement where we have the president in the decision-making. So not three names, but we give one ", said Abdixhiku.
The President of Kosovo is elected with a two-thirds majority in the first two rounds of voting, or 61 votes in the third round, but 80 MPs are needed in the chamber for the session to be held. Therefore, an agreement between parliamentary parties on this issue is needed, given that no party has such a large number of MPs in the 120-seat Assembly.
A constitutional deadline for electing a president expires on April 28, and if a president is not elected by then, Kosovo will hold new elections within 45 days. Vjosa Osmani's term ended in early April, and after no agreement was reached on her successor, the speaker of the parliament, Albulena Haxhiu, was appointed interim president on April 4.
Previous attempts to elect a new president failed as neither side made concessions. On March 6, former President Osmani issued a decree dissolving the parliament and paving the way for new elections. Osmani himself had been seeking a second term, but failed to secure the necessary support.
The decree was overturned by the Constitutional Court after an appeal by the government. The highest court in Kosovo said the decree had no legal effect and set April 28 as the deadline for presidential elections.
