PRISTINA, July 10 /ATA/ Political leaders in Kosovo have begun talks on forming the country’s new institutions following the early parliamentary elections held on 7 June.
The first meeting brought together acting Prime Minister of Kosovo and leader of the Self-Determination Movement, Albin Kurti, and Democratic Party of Kosovo chairman Bedri Hamza at the Assembly building.
A meeting with LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku is scheduled for 18:00.
“We expect the meeting to be constructive and to establish the institutions of the 11th legislature,” Kurti said as he entered the Assembly building accompanied by acting Finance Minister Hekuran Murati.
Hamza told reporters that he hoped the talks would prove successful, paving the way for the country to establish functioning institutions, ensure institutional stability and make progress.
Asked about the presidency, Hamza said he had consistently stated that he had no red lines regarding political parties and was willing to hold talks with all political leaders.
However, Hamza stressed that the discussions were not about positions or “names”, but about principles.
The meetings between political leaders come two days after the certification of the results of the early parliamentary elections held in June. The elections were called after political parties failed months earlier to reach a consensus on electing the country’s new president.
Kurti also invited Alliance leader Ardian Gjini to the talks, but Gjini declined the invitation, arguing that his party had already presented six conditions that Kurti would need to meet in exchange for its support in forming the new institutions.
Political analyst Ilir Deda described the meetings as a positive development, but said it was now time for political leaders to provide answers on the formation of institutions “within one or two meetings at most”.
Deda told Radio Free Europe that holding new elections would be highly damaging for the country, adding that “Kurti, Hamza and Abdixhiku have an enormous responsibility to reach an agreement and provide Kosovo with a functioning government, a president and political stability for the next four years.”
According to the final results of the 7 June elections, Kurti’s Self-Determination Movement (LVV) won 53 seats, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) secured 22 seats, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) won 18, and the Alliance received seven seats.
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