The opposition bloc wishing to form a new government of Kosovo has decided to create a joint group in order to secure the post of Assembly Speaker, the paper reports on the front page. According to the agreement, the post is set to go to the leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Isa Mustafa, but an Assembly regulation stipulates that the position should go to a candidate proposed by the largest parliamentary group.
The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the opposition’s candidate for Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, said that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK)’s warning, about heading into early elections if it is not given a mandate to form the new government, is ridiculous. “If the country heads into elections again, the opposition will have only one slogan: ‘Thieves to prison,’” said Haradinaj, adding that the opposition would run together if elections were repeated.
Adriatik Kelmendi writes that despite the fact that unification of opposition parties in a coalition came at a late phase, the decision will also impact elections in the future. It became clear after fifteen years that Kosovo has two kinds of parties: those that always gain 22 percent of votes or more, and those that never reach more than 14 percent. He considers that social changes with the support of only fourteen percent of population are difficult therefore coalition of smaller parties could represent an alternative.
The Vetevendosje Movement will hold talks with the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Nisma, to block the formation of the government by the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti on Monday talked about the possibility of a united opposition block that would prevent a PDK-led government.
The paper reports in a front-page article that Isa Mustafa has ruled out his resignation from the post of leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) after his party failed to win the 8 June national elections. After the meeting of the LDK chairmanship, Mustafa told reporters he has a lot of work to do. “We have much more important things to do now… Elections [in the LDK] will be held in autumn this year,” Mustafa was quoted as saying. Mustafa also said that the LDK chairmanship did not discuss a possible coalition with the PDK. “We did not discuss this issue.
The post of Prime Minister will not be included in talks on the future ruling coalition that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) will hold with other political parties. The post is reserved for PDK leader Hashim Thaci. PDK deputy leader Enver Hoxhaj told the paper on Monday that the PDK will wait for the certification of election results before it begins negotiations for the coalition. Hoxhaj said the PDK does not have any “red lines” for political parties, except for the post of Prime Minister.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday that as far as the European Union is concerned, the countries of the Western Balkans, have clear EU prospects but added that “they still have a long road ahead of them”. Merkel said Germany supports their membership in the EU, “but experience has taught us that when there is not progress before membership, the work after membership is certainly not easier”. “Ultimately, it is up to the countries themselves whether or not they will go quickly through specific phases,” Merkel added.
The paper reports on the front page that the Central Election Commission announced preliminary results showing the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) in first place with 30.94%, followed by the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) with 26.29%. The data came from 90 percent of polling stations. The New Kosovo Alliance (AKR), which was part of the coalition government with the PDK, failed to cross the 5 percent threshold. Vetevendosje, led by Albin Kurti, secured around 14 percent and the Haradinaj-led Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) received 10 percent.
The paper reports on the front page that the mortal remains of 31 victims from the Kosovo conflict have been exhumed from the Rudnica mass grave in Serbia. Arsim Gërxhaliu, director of the Forensics Department at the Kosovo Ministry of Justice, told the paper that they will soon perform autopsies on the victims. He also said that it is not good to prejudge the number of victims that may be found in the mass grave. The paper notes that the mass grave is believed to contain the bodies of 250 Albanians executed by Serbian troops during the conflict.
The paper reports on page four that Aleksander Lumezi has scored highest in the interviews for the position of state chief prosecutor. Lumezi now leads the list of eight candidates and the new state chief prosecutor will be appointed after the retirement of the current chief prosecutor, Ismet Kabashi. Lumezi currently holds the position of chief prosecutor of the Appeals Prosecution.