UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 8
- LDK has yet to unfold new conditions for coalition with LVV (Koha)
- Kurti and Mustafa to meet again today (RTK)
- Abrashi: President, Assembly Speaker and five ministries belong to LDK (RTK)
- Muhaxherri: Assembly Speaker post to be returned, or a new solution (RTK)
- Selmanaj: LVV did not win the right for Prime Minister (Express)
- Final hours of the President’s anti-constitutional ultimatum (Zeri)
- Police arrest woman after her remarks about killed Iranian commander (media)
LDK has yet to unfold new conditions for coalition with LVV (Koha)
The paper reports on its front-page story that a three-hour meeting between Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) leader and candidate for Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader Isa Mustafa on Tuesday ended without an agreement. This was the first meeting after the election of the Assembly President and after LVV leader Albin Kurti announced the names of candidates for government ministries from his party.
Neither Kurti nor Mustafa revealed details from the meeting. “We are not mad with Albin Kurti. We will meet again tomorrow,” Mustafa told reporters as he was leaving the Kosovo Assembly premises.
Unnamed sources from the meeting told the paper that none of the parties have moved from their earlier positions and that the LDK did not present any concrete condition to enter a coalition government.
“At the meeting on Wednesday, the LDK is expected to present conditions for eventually joining a coalition. Based on the discussions, although there was no specific request, it was implied that the LDK wants more ministries as compensation for the post of Assembly President. Another request is for Vetevendosje to pledge its 29 votes in the Assembly for the post of President that should belong to the LDK,” the sources said.
According to the same sources, Mustafa expressed his disappointment with what he called unilateral steps by the Vetevendosje Movement in the Assembly and the announcement of candidates for government ministries without a prior agreement with the LDK. Vetevendosje’s reported position is that the election of Glauk Konjufca as Assembly President is irreversible.
Kurti and Mustafa to meet again today (RTK)
Leaders of Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Albin Kurti and Isa Mustafa will continue today with their meeting to negotiate the formation of the future governing coalition.
Kurti and Mustafa’s meeting on Tuesday lasted more than three hours, however none of the political leaders made a statement for the media after this meeting.
LDK spokesperson Besian Mustafa only informed that the two leaders would meet again and added that he does not have any details about their discussions.
Abrashi: President, Assembly Speaker and five ministries belong to LDK (RTK)
Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MP Arban Abrashi said on Tuesday that his party favours a coalition with the Vetevendosje Movement, the news website reports.
“I requested to set a deadline and not delay further reach of the agreement. Just as in the beginning the post of the President, Assembly Speaker and five ministries should still belong to LDK,” Abrashi wrote on his Facebook account. “Partnership is built through trust and understanding, not through presentations, and humiliation of the only serious partner. Do not lose the hope of the country,” he wrote.
Muhaxherri: Assembly Speaker post to be returned, or a new solution (RTK)
Gazmend Muhaxherri, Peja mayor, leader of the branch of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) in this city and member of the party’s leadership, said on Tuesday that he favours an agreement with Kurti’s Vetevendosje Movement (LVV). He said they expect a new offer from the LVV that would replace the Assembly Speaker, a post that was foreseen for the LDK.
“A balanced government should be formed. The Assembly Speaker should be returned, or a new solution should be found. Negotiations should take place based on equal principals,’ he said.
Muhaxherri also said that hopes for a coalition are not lost yet.
Selmanaj: LVV did not win the right for Prime Minister (Express)
Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MP Driton Selmanaj said on Tuesday that the fact that Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) won the elections does not mean that the Prime Minister has to come from this political entity.
He added that LDK is being blamed for two months now. He praised his political party for always respecting the Assembly, Constitutional Court and other institutions. “During the two year in opposition with LVV, there was no moment of teargas, attacks on PM Haradinaj, no pelting with eggs or violent protest in the street. We have decided to emancipate this political party as well,” Selmanaj told RTV 21.
Selmanaj considers that LVV insulted LDK by asking for the name of the candidate they would propose for the president. “Isn’t this an insult for LDK? LDK never proposed a candidate without dignity,” Selmanaj said.
Final hours of the President’s anti-constitutional ultimatum (Zeri)
The paper reports on its front-page that today at 16:00 ends the 48-hour ultimatum that Kosovo President Hashim Thaci gave to Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) leader Albin Kurti to propose the name of the candidate for Prime Minister. “Although Thaci has warned Kurti that after the deadline expires, he would undertake constitutional actions, legal commentators argue that President Thaci cannot set timelines on the matter or seek an interpretation from the Constitutional Court,” the paper notes.
Police arrest woman after her remarks about killed Iranian commander (media)
Most news outlets report that Kosovo Police arrested Ikballe Huduti – Berisha on Tuesday after her comments against the killing of General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Iran’s elite Quds Force. In her social media posts, Berisha – Huduti had also criticised Kosovo’s leaders for supporting the U.S. attack.