Election of new head of state and end to political crisis now looks less likely after several Democratic League of Kosovo MPs said they would not support a joint candidate backed by their party leader.
LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku at a press conference on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Photo: BIRN
Six MPs from the opposition Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, will not follow the decision of the party’s leadership on a joint presidential candidate with the ruling Vetevendosje Movement, potentially jeopardising a possible end to Kosovo’s political crisis and prompting yet another election.
The six have been named as Avdullah Hoti, Hykmete Bajrami, Arben Gashi, Armend Zemaj, Kujtim Shala and Janina Ymeri.
They are causing irreparable harm to the entire
“They are causing irreparable harm to the entire process and – inevitably and unnecessarily – driving the country toward snap elections,” LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku told the media on Tuesday.
“This position is detrimental to Kosovo and to the LDK. Any future elections triggered by this refusal – given that the candidate was excellent – will have electoral consequences that consolidate absolute power and will impact the LDK itself,” he added.
On Monday, following a meeting between Vetevendosje and LDK leaders Albin Kurti and Abdixhiku, the latter announced Bekim Sejdiu, a former Constitutional Court judge and former diplomat, as their joint pick for the presidential post.
Soon after, former PM and LDK MP Avdullah
But soon after, former PM and LDK MP Avdullah Hoti went on Facebook to warn that he does “not support this candidacy for President of the Republic of Kosovo – not for personal reasons but based on a political and institutional principle”, hinting at the divisions within the LDK.
Acting PM Kurti told the media on Tuesday evening, after Abdixhiku’s announcement, that a fresh election now looked more likely.
“After three rounds of elections [since February 2025], it appears there is a desire, will and an interest to head into a fourth election in less than two years,” he said. He added that a new meeting with Abdixhiku was needed.
In the last elections, in June, Kurti’s Vetevendosje
In the last elections, in June, Kurti’s Vetevendosje won 53 of the 120 seats in the Assembly, well ahead of the next-placed Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, which won 22 seats. The LDK came third with 18 seats – but only 12 of these would now vote for the chosen president.
Vetevendosje has claimed it can call on 62 votes to form a new government, again relying on the support of MPs from ethnic minority communities – Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian, Turk and Bosniak – plus one of the Serb MPs.
But in the presidential election, Sejdiu must win at least 80 MPs’ votes in the first two rounds. In a potential third round, he would need a simple majority of only 61 votes.
The announcement of the joint presidential candidate
The announcement of the joint presidential candidate was a move to end the political deadlock that has paralysed Kosovo since the parliamentary elections in June. Parliament has yet to be inaugurated, as the parties have not agreed on the next president. Without an agreement, new elections seem inevitable.
Amid the institutional logjam, the provisional speaker, Avni Dehari, from Vetevendosje, refused to resume the inaugural session that started on August 6.
Vetevendosje also refused to submit a name for the new speaker, first demanding an agreement with the other parties on the new president.
Source: balkaninsight.com
