PRISTINA, Aug 18 /ATA/ A meeting between Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti and Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader Lumir Abdixhiku has concluded, with the two discussing the potential profile of the country’s next president.
Both leaders said after the meeting that there was a willingness to reach an agreement on a candidate for the presidency.
“Today we held detailed and substantive discussions on the criteria and standards that the next president should meet,” Kurti said.
Abdixhiku said the two parties would now consult internally before discussing specific names at their next meeting.
Abdixhiku said there was mutual willingness to agree on the profile of a new president, while reiterating his openness to supporting a consensus, non-partisan candidate despite ruling out a broader political deal with Kurti.
Following Abdixhiku’s announcement, Kurti called for the parties to meet and discuss specific candidates for the country’s next president.
Kurti’s Vetëvendosje and Abdixhiku’s LDK had previously negotiated a coalition deal, but Abdixhiku withdrew from talks on joining the government, saying Kurti’s offer was unacceptable.
The LDK had sought the presidency and participation in the government, arguing that this would help ensure institutional balance. According to Abdixhiku, Kurti offered the party three ministerial posts and the position of deputy prime minister instead.
Kosovo is facing a fresh institutional crisis following the June 7 snap elections.
Kosovo’s parliament has yet to be constituted, despite the 30-day deadline for completing the process expiring on August 7.
Vetëvendosje has called for a political agreement, particularly on the election of the next president, before the session resumes. The Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Alliance, meanwhile, insist that parliament should be constituted without conditioning the process on reaching an agreement on the president.
Following its withdrawal of the demand for the presidency, the LDK has also said there is no longer any reason for parliament not to be constituted and for the new government to be voted in.
Kurti’s Vetëvendosje has secured enough seats to constitute parliament and approve a new government, including the support of non-majority minority parties.
However, the election of Kosovo’s president requires 80 MPs to be present in the 120-seat Assembly for the vote to be valid.
Kurti has insisted that the country’s next president should be a non-partisan candidate who enjoys broad consensus.
The June elections were called after political parties failed to agree on a successor to Vjosa Osmani, whose five-year presidential term ended in April.
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