By: Shpend Kursani

Decisions made by institutions under the influence of PDK in 2014 led to the current political stalemate. But the vote tally points to a way out.

Anybody following elections in most Western Balkan countries has most likely encountered a the keyword: ‘institutional crisis.’ It is no different with the recent elections in Kosovo, which have not produced a fully-established parliament or government since June.

Deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Enver Hoxhaj, said after e meeting of the party leadership that Kadri Veseli remains the only candidate for Kosovo Assembly speaker and that the decision on whether to take part in the Assembly’s constitutive session scheduled for Thursday will be announced tomorrow.

Deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Enver Hoxhaj, hailed the decision of the Kosovo Assembly session’s chairman Adem Mikullovci to call a meeting of parliamentary groups on Wednesday. Hoxhaj said he is glad the chairman has realized that in a parliamentary democracy there should be coordination with political parties.

Deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Memli Krasniqi, said today that the PAN coalition has sufficient votes to constitute the new Assembly and the government but added that the second will not be formed this Thursday, 3 August. “I don’t believe the government will be voted on Thursday”, Krasniqi said.

Elected MP from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Driton Selmanaj, said after his registration at the Kosovo Assembly that Kosovo needs a stable government, which in no version depends from prime ministers or presidents of countries in the region. He also said that LDK would in no way be in a government where PDK is.

According to him, the decision of the LDK’s General Council is to have no communication with PDK.

LAA coalition appears to be determined not to vote the leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Kadri Veseli for the President of the Assembly of Kosovo, and neither the leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, for the position of the Prime Minister of Kosovo. This was reiterated today by LAA MP, Ilir Deda.

Deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Enver Hoxhaj, said at the meeting called by President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci with representatives of political parties that PAN coalition has sufficient votes to form the new government of Kosovo. He also said PDK is ready for the Assembly’s constitutive session whenever it is announced.

Vetevendosje MP, Albulena Haxhiu, told Telegrafi that Kadri Veseli is a divisive figure and that he is not worthy for President of the Assembly of Kosovo. She added that the Assembly President should be a personality who represents unity. She also suggested to the Democratic Party of Kosovo to consider some other candidate who is worthy of being Assembly President. “We would not vote a figure such as Kadri Veseli for Assembly President,” she said.

Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) rebutted reports that PAN coalition offered to the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) the post of prime minister in exchange for it joining the new government. PDK deputy leader, Memli Krasniqi, said no such offer was made and the new government of Kosovo will be led by PAN’s candidate, Ramush Haradinaj.  “This is an LDK speculation and there is no truth to it. It may be wishful thinking as the post of prime minister will be held by our candidate, Mr. Haradinaj”, Krasniqi said.

Mimoza Kusari-Lila, Mayor of Gjakova/Djakovica, terminated today the municipal coalition with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). In a memo to the head of PDK branch in Gjakova/Djakovica, Kusari-Lila said the decision came following PDK’s “continuous decrease of performance” and the party’s focus on political gains rather than general interest of the municipality.

Kusari-Lila is the leader of the newly-formed Alternativa party which ran alongside the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) in last week’s elections.