Kosovo’s opposition Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) on Monday proposed forming a transitional government with all ethnic Albanian parties to resolve a deepening political crisis, following weeks of failed attempts to establish new state institutions.
LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku said his party would not join a coalition government led by the ruling Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) movement, rejecting an invitation for talks from Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
“The country is in an institutional crisis,” Abdixhiku told a news conference. “LDK proposes the beginning of a new political process – the formation of a national transitional government with all parliamentary Albanian parties.”
He said the proposed government would serve until a new president is elected and would have a clear political and executive agenda, including a unifying prime minister and cabinet.
The remarks came after Vetevendosje, which won the most seats in the February 9 parliamentary elections, invited LDK to negotiate a governing coalition. The assembly has failed 11 times since April 15 to elect a speaker, stalling the formal constitution of the new legislature.
Kurti, speaking to reporters on Monday, said he remains prime minister and intends to continue leading, downplaying the idea of a transitional administration.
“The opposition’s fear of parliamentary constitution is not something I can analyze,” he said. “I remain prime minister – we continue forward.”
LDK’s call has already received support from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, led by former prime minister Ramush Haradinaj.
However, Vetevendosje official Blerim Sallahu criticized the proposal as unconstitutional, noting that LDK came third in the election with 20 seats, behind Vetevendosje’s 48 and the Democratic Party of Kosovo’s 24.
“It is unconstitutional for the third-ranked party to propose a transitional government,” Sallahu wrote on Facebook.
Kosovo’s constitution mandates that once parliament is constituted, the leading party has 15 days to propose a government. That deadline has not yet been triggered due to the impasse in electing a parliamentary speaker. Kurti’s nominee, Albulena Haxhiu, has failed to secure the required 61 votes in multiple rounds.
