Kosovo’s Prime Minister and leader of the ruling Vetëvendosje (VV) party, Albin Kurti, met on Monday with Lumir Abdixhiku, head of the opposition Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), to discuss the upcoming presidential election, less than ten days before the constitutional deadline.
Kurti said Vetëvendosje does not have a preselected candidate for president, and emphasized the need for a consensual figure who could secure the necessary two-thirds majority in parliament. “VV did not contest the December 28 elections with a particular candidate in mind, and the same applies to the two other major parties, PDK and LDK,” Kurti told reporters.
He added that in order to avoid snap elections, political parties must agree on a candidate who can command support from at least 83 to 85 deputies, exceeding the constitutional threshold of 80 votes. “Even with our parliamentary majority, we are short of 80. If just one lawmaker is absent, the election fails,” he said.
Kurti said talks with opposition parties would intensify in the coming days, though he cautioned that a coalition between VV and LDK alone might not guarantee success. “This is not an easy situation, but negotiations will continue,” he said.
Abdixhiku described the meeting as constructive, saying the two sides agreed there were two main paths forward: either a broad political consensus or a conventional political agreement between parties. “In both cases, at least two-thirds of deputies must vote in the Kosovo Assembly,” Abdixhiku said.
The prime minister has already held discussions with Bedri Hamza, leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), who stressed that the election of the president should reflect broad citizen support rather than partisan calculations. Hamza also highlighted the importance of institutional stability and adherence to constitutional responsibilities.
The series of meetings is part of ongoing parliamentary coordination efforts ahead of Kosovo’s presidential vote, which must be completed within the constitutional timeframe.