Last hours of the deadline for electing the president, Haxhiu: Two candidates are needed to call a session

Hollaj reacts again to Nagavci: You did not guarantee votes for Osmani, you invited him only as a formality and then blame the opposition

The chief of staff of the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, Learta Hollaj, has reacted again to the head of the parliamentary group of the Vetëvendosje Movement, Arbërie Nagavci, who stated that she is guaranteed the votes of all the ruling party's MPs.

Hollaj said that President Osmani is not guaranteed votes, but is only being invited as a formality as Glauk Konjufca's counter-candidate, so that the opposition can then be blamed for going to the elections.

"If you tell someone to come just as a formality, become Mr. Glauk Konjufca's counter-candidate, just for the sake of numbers, so that we can then blame the opposition together for going to the elections, is there any shame? So you did not offer the President a single vote for re-election, but you asked her to do a formality and numbers so that today you can come up with such manipulations. We do not treat state institutions like that!", said Hollaj in his repeated reaction.

Lushaku-Sadriu: We express our indignation, new elections are being headed

Photo: Driton Pacharada

The head of the Democratic League of Kosovo Parliamentary Group, Jehona Lushaku-Sadriu, has said that she is outraged by the direction the situation has taken regarding the election of the president.

Lushaku-Sadriu said she is outraged by the behavior of the Vetëvendosje Movement, with the proposal of Glauk Konjufca as a presidential candidate. She said that there is a tendency to seize the main political institutions in the country.

"As LDK, we have seen with concern the new direction of this process and the closing of an opportunity to find a compromise that would eliminate systematic institutional blockages. This is a one-way, dead-end road, it is a direction towards new elections that are totally unnecessary and represents the tendency to seize the main institutions in the country. Today we are expressing our indignation, we have given everything as a party, we have tried to give the country a solution by offering the possibility of dialogue", said Lushaku-Sadriu at the press conference.

Asked whether the names of Glauk Konjufca and Vjosa Osmani as presidential candidates were discussed, Lushaku-Sadriu said that "specific names were not discussed."

Regarding the possibility of Vjosa Osmani returning to LDK, she said that anyone who represents the same ideologies is welcome, but the LDK leadership will decide specifically.

"LDK is a big house and we see and do. Each one represents political values, we must always stay within the values ​​we represent, our ideologies within the political party. When you belong to a political bloc, you are always welcome in a house, but now it is not something that I determine, it is determined by the LDK leadership," said Lushaku-Sadriu.

Asked whether they will take part in the presidential session, Lushaku-Sadriu stated that they will not cause a boycott but that it will depend on the candidates and the decision whether to support them or not.

"We will not cause a boycott, the obligations and responsibilities of each MP are known, we will be within the framework of our political rights and responsibilities. We will always have a reason for each behavior. You will see the definition of our behavior, it will depend a lot on the session, the manner, the candidates and the support we give to a candidacy or not," Lushaku-Sadriu said at the press conference.

Manjuka – To the Presidency: If you have doubts, come to LVV, we will give you 33 signatures

Kosovo Government Spokesperson Arlind Manjhuka has reacted after the Presidency denied that the Vetëvendosë Movement offered President Vjosa Osmani 30 signatures to fulfill the condition to run for another term. 

In a status on the social network Facebook, Manjhuka responded to the chief of staff of the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, Learta Hollaj, who called the statement of the head of the LVV Parliamentary Group, Arbërie Nagavci, that they had offered Osmani the signatures of the deputies, a lie. 

"If the head of the president's office has doubts that we did not promise the president 30 signatures, I invite her to come to the Movement offices tonight, she will have 3 more than candidate Glauk Konjufca, so 33," Manjhuka wrote on Facebook. 

In a Facebook post, Hollaj said that this is a lie.

"Denial. President Osmani denies that she was offered signatures and support from the Vetevendosje Movement for re-election as President of the Republic of Kosovo. This is a lie!", wrote Hollaj.

Osmani says LVV did not offer him 30 signatures to run

Photo: Driton Pacharada

The chief of staff of Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, Learta Hollaj, has denied that the signatures and support of the Vetëvendosje Movement were offered to President Osmani.

The head of the LVV deputies, Arbërie Nagavci, stated in a press conference that the Vetëvendosje Movement has offered the signatures of the deputies to the current president, Vjosa Osmani, to fulfill the condition to enter the race for another mandate.

In a Facebook post, Hollaj said that this is a lie.

"Denial. President Osmani denies that she was offered signatures and support from the Vetevendosje Movement for re-election as President of the Republic of Kosovo. This is a lie!", wrote Hollaj.

Hollaj's reaction was asked during the Nagavci conference. She did not answer when she was offered the signatures, but emphasized that she guarantees the signatures of the Vetëvendosje Movement for Vjosa Osmani.

"Today I guarantee the votes of the Vetevendosje Movement. If we talk about the signatures of the deputies. If we say that it is not true. Today I am ready to guarantee on behalf of the Movement that it will offer votes to continue in the race," said Nagavci.

Nagavci: We offered 30 signatures to Vjosa Osmani, he refused them

Photo: Driton Pacharada

The head of the Vetëvendosje Movement's deputies, Arbërie Nagavci, said that the Vetëvendosje Movement has offered the signatures of the deputies to the current president, Vjosa Osmani, to fulfill the condition to enter the race for another mandate. 

But according to Nagavci, Osmani did not accept this offer.

"As the Movement, we have also offered the president, Mrs. Vjosa Osmani, her candidacy, although as we know, no other political entity has done such a thing and we have had public statements in this case from PDK that it does not support Osmani for president," said Nagavci. 

"Since Ms. Osmani has not accepted this offer, now taking into account the current dynamics, the short time until tomorrow at midnight to elect the president, but also the numbers of other entities that do not have a sufficient number of deputies to secure 30 signatures," she added at a press conference held on Wednesday.

She said that VV continues to be willing to offer the signatures of their MPs to other entities to offer their potential candidacies. 

"We have the right to nominate another candidate. The reason is precisely in our tendency, our spirit of cooperation, our constructive approach towards opposition parties. With the aim of avoiding another pair of elections. LDK and PDK lack the votes. PDK eight votes for 30 signatures ... LDK 15 signatures. We are ready to offer signatures and we expect them to come up with concrete names and continue the race as it continues in the spirit of the Constitution", said Nagavci. 

Haxhiu: Only one candidate for president, two are needed to convene the session

The Speaker of the Kosovo Assembly, Albulena Haxhiu, said that so far only one candidate for president has been proposed, Glauk Konjufca. She said that Konjufca was proposed with the signatures of 30 deputies from the Vetëvendosje Movement and the multiethnic group. 

Haxhiu has called on MPs to provide signatures and propose another candidate to meet the condition for calling a session to elect the president. 

She said that the deadline for calling the hearing is March 5th.

"There may be requests for an extraordinary session, but there cannot be a session to elect a president without having at least two candidates. The election of the president must take place no later than 30 days before the end of the current president's term. The constitutional deadline is March 5, 2026, so we have less than 30 hours until the end of this deadline, which makes the situation more urgent. I invite all members of the Assembly of Kosovo who have not yet signed to reflect and consider the possibility of proposing at least one other candidate," Haxhiu said at a press conference. 

Speaker Haxhiu, at the press conference, also said that if by tomorrow we do not have another name from the opposition as a presidential candidate and a session is called to begin the 60-day deadline, then the country will enter "uncharted territory."

As Haxhiu stated, according to the Constitution of Kosovo, the 60-day deadline begins when the Kosovo Assembly session is called on the issue of the president and his/her election is attempted, but this deadline has not started because there are not two candidates for president in order to call the session.

"In the current situation, only if in the third round, none of the candidates receives 61 votes as foreseen by the Constitution to become president, the country goes to extraordinary elections. The other thing that is foreseen by the Constitution is that if within the 60-day period the president of Kosovo is not elected, from the start of the procedures, which is if we were to start today, but since we have not started, this deadline did not start. With the situation when there is no second candidate, although we are waiting until tomorrow for another candidate from the opposition, but, if we are after the 6th and onwards, it is not clearly defined what happens if the president is elected after this deadline. We are entering another terrain, often called uncharted terrain", said Haxhiu.

She said that this situation requires prudence and responsibility from all parties and that the interests of the Republic of Kosovo and its citizens be placed before any calculations. 

PDK: Parliamentary majority is producing a new political crisis

The Democratic Party of Kosovo has said that the Vetëvendosje Movement is leading the country towards an unnecessary institutional crisis. 

The PDK has said that due to Kurti's unwillingness to reach a comprehensive and inter-party agreement, the country is facing the risk of not electing a new president. 

"The presidential election is not a competition for the opposition and should not be a political game for the parliamentary majority. The numbers in the Kosovo Assembly are clear and the constitutional obligation of the parliamentary majority is to ensure the normal functioning of the institutions. Despite the mandates entrusted to it by the citizens, the Vetëvendosje Movement has shown an inability to govern and irresponsibility, producing crises, polarization and political stagnation. Instead of a responsible and state-based approach, the parliamentary majority has decided to run a completely party candidate, without coordination with other entities and without the possibility of reaching consensus," the PDK response states. 

The PDK said that since no agreement was reached on a consensual candidate, the PDK had requested that a president proposed by it be elected. But this was also rejected. 

"The Democratic Party of Kosovo has acted throughout this process with prudence and political responsibility. We have participated in consultations, we have removed red lines to create space for a solution and we have been ready to support a consensual candidate who guarantees unity and institutional stability. As a contribution to stability, after the failure to reach a consensual candidacy, as the largest opposition political entity, we have requested that a President proposed by the PDK be elected, as a balancing mechanism to avoid the concentration of power in the hands of a single party. Unfortunately, all these options were rejected. The responsibility for the created situation and for the consequences it may bring falls entirely on the parliamentary majority and on those who have the mandate to govern the country," the reaction states. "Kosovo needs political stability, functional institutions and leadership that puts the interest of the state above party interest." 
 

Çitaku: Kurti does not seek solutions, but total power

Photo: Archive

Photo: Driton Pacharada

The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly from the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Vlora Çitaku, after the Vetëvendosje Movement proposed Glauk Konjufca as a candidate for president, said that it is now clear that "Albin Kurti is not seeking a solution, but total power."

"At a time when Kosovo needs more than ever prudence, unity and state responsibility, he is consciously pushing the country towards a new political crisis. Not because there was no way out. On the contrary, the solution was there. The opportunity for agreement and for the election of the president existed. But Kurti chose the crisis. He chose the clash. He chose his political interest over the interest of the state," Çitaku wrote on Facebook.

She also wrote that Kosovo and its citizens do not deserve this punishment that, according to her, Kurti is imposing on them. 

"State institutions are not the property of anyone, much less of a man who sees power as an end in itself. Kosovo is greater than anyone's ambition," Çitaku wrote. 

LDK: VV's approach does not reflect serious efforts for consensus, country heading towards elections

Photo: Driton Pacharada

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has assessed that the approach of the Vetëvendosje Movement (VV) does not reflect a serious effort to build consensus for the election of the president. 

In a Facebook post, after VV nominated Glauk Konjufca for president, this party assessed that due to VV's "irresponsible political approach, the country is heading towards exceeding constitutional deadlines and risks being sent to yet another round of new elections."

"The approach of the Vetëvendosje! Movement does not reflect a serious effort to build this consensus. On the contrary, it treats this process as a political competition and not as an effort to reach political agreement. Such an approach serves neither the spirit of the Constitution nor the country's need for institutional stability. In this spirit, the Democratic League of Kosovo regrets that, due to this irresponsible political approach, the country is heading towards exceeding constitutional deadlines and risks being sent to yet another round of new elections, instead of achieving the institutional stability that our citizens expect and deserve," the LDK's response states.

Hamza: Without a preliminary political agreement, there is no vote from the PDK

The leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Bedri Hamza, has declared that the party he represents will not vote for president without a prior political agreement.

Hamza told Kosovapress that PDK's stance has been consistent.

"The position is the same, the Democratic Party of Kosovo has consistency, we have no red lines, we have had full will to vote for a candidate, but if it had been someone from the Jashari family, I speak with respect, with respect to the point of humility, we appreciate the family's decision. We have said that there must be a political agreement, that a political agreement must precede the election of a president, the one proposed by the Democratic Party of Kosovo," said the PDK leader.

He stated that he has not met with Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Parliament regarding this issue.
Hamza says he does not have a position on Andin Hoti, mentioned in the media as a possible Vetëvendosje candidate for president.

"We do not have a position that there is no official candidacy, but without prior agreement there is no vote from the Democratic Party," said Hamza.
 

The Vetevendosje Movement proposes Glauk Konjufca for president

Photo: Driton Pacharada

The Vetëvendosje Movement has proposed the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Glauk Konjufca, for the position of president. 

In a post on the social network Facebook, the ruling party wrote that at this stage, new elections would be completely unnecessary.

"Our political subject is convinced that in our country there are many names worthy of this important state position, around whom a consensus could be built to move forward. At this stage, new elections would be completely unnecessary. In these circumstances, the VETËVENDOSJE! Movement, after all efforts to reach an agreement, will propose as a candidate for President the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, former Speaker of the Parliament, MP of seven legislatures and the second most voted person in the history of our Republic, Mr. Glauk Konjufca," the post states.

Vetëvendosje has invited opposition entities to propose a candidate and has announced that if they need additional signatures, they will be assisted by their parliamentary group. 

"We are convinced that this challenge is surmountable, elections are avoidable, and it is entirely possible to find agreement to move forward," the post states.

It is further stated that during meetings held with the leaders of the opposition parties, they did not receive a concrete proposal for a consensual candidate for president.

"Given the political determinations of the parliamentary entities, as the winning entity, we proposed to offer the country a consensual candidate for President. For this reason, we invited the largest opposition entities to meetings several times in a row, with the aim of finding names and proposals around which we could build consensus for this position, the election of which requires the participation of at least 80 deputies in the hall. Despite our insistence, we did not receive any concrete proposals from these entities, while our offers with specific names were also rejected," the post states.

Full post:

Arsim Bajrami withdraws his candidacy for president

Academic Arsim Bajrami has withdrawn from his candidacy for president of Kosovo. 

Bajrami had announced his candidacy on February 26, but on Wednesday he withdrew, saying that he made the decision after the two main parliamentary parties, the Vetëvendosje Movement and the Democratic Party of Kosovo, "did not support the concept of a consensual candidate" for president of Kosovo. 

"Since the two main parliamentary parties, the Self-Determination Movement and the Democratic Party of Kosovo, did not support the concept of a consensual candidate for President of the Republic of Kosovo, I HAVE DECIDED TO WITHDRAW MY WILLINGNESS TO MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE AS A CONSENSUAL CANDIDATE. My offer was intended exclusively to contribute to overcoming the deep political and institutional crisis, in which the country is entering its second year, by putting my state-building experience of over three decades at the service, in the function of political and civic unity, as well as guaranteeing the constitutional functioning of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo," Bajrami wrote in a public announcement. 

Bajrami said that his offer to become president had neither personal nor career motives behind it, but was an expression of willingness to serve Kosovo at a sensitive moment.

"I wish success to any President or Presidents who will be elected and express my willingness, in my academic and professional capacity, to contribute to the state-building processes and the strengthening of the country's democratic institutions. On this occasion, I express my most sincere thanks to thousands of friends, colleagues, professors and students, for the numerous messages of support and civic solidarity that they have sent me these days," said Bajrami.

The hearing for the president is expected to be held tonight.

Photo: Archive

Photo: Driton Pacharada

The session to elect the president is expected to be held tonight. 

KOHA sources have said that the session is expected to be held at 19:00 PM. 

During the day, the Vetevendosje Movement and the Democratic Party of Kosovo gathered their MPs to discuss. However, there are no official names yet.

As KOHA has learned, the name with the greatest support within the Democratic Party of Kosovo is Justina Pula. Days ago, the chairman of the PDK, Bedri Hamza, announced that their latest offer for an agreement with the Vetëvendosje Movement on the issue of the president is that the name for president be proposed by the PDK, and receive the support of the VV. He had said that the name will not be party-related.

Hamza and the leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, Albin Kurti, have met twice so far. There have been no concrete results from the meetings for a consensual candidate. On Saturday, Hamza's offer was interpreted by the leader of Vetevendosje, Albin Kurti, as an "opening of the race" for president. However, this was denied by Hamza, who stated that "if there is a race, the result is known" alluding to the numbers in the Assembly. According to the Constitution, to propose a candidate for president, at least 30 signatures of deputies are needed. The Vetevendosje Movement has 57 deputies, while no other party has 30 votes alone.

And on the eve of the meeting of VV MPs on Wednesday, Kurti said that he is "curious about the discussions inside", responding to journalists in the Parliament.

The current President Vjosa Osmani's term ends on April 4. According to the Constitution, if the Assembly fails to elect a president no later than 30 days before the end of the current president's term, then the country goes to new elections. There have been different interpretations as to whether this date should be March 4 or 5. Parliament Speaker Albulena Haxhiu had said that it is March 4, and the LDK a day earlier stated that the deadline ends on March 5.

To elect the president, at least 80 votes are required in one of the first two rounds of voting, or 61 votes in the third round, out of a total of 120 deputies in the Assembly.

Tahiri: We still have no information about the session for the president

The head of the parliamentary group of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Besnik Tahiri, said that the process for electing the president was accompanied by lack of transparency and accountability.

After the end of the AAK parliamentary group meeting, Tahiri stated that they still do not have any information about the session to elect the president.

"No parliamentary group has yet received information about whether a session will be held for the president. The citizens of Kosovo should know that the primary responsibility belongs to the largest party, which received 51%. It does not have 80 votes to make the president, and in the absence of votes "There was no political process to select a consensual candidate," Tahiri said after the end of the AAK parliamentary group meeting.

According to Tahiri, there is no will to appoint a consensual candidate and there is no candidate for this position at all. Tahiri stated to the media that this situation, deliberately created by the ruling party, is intended to make the opposition surrender, but according to him, this will not happen.

"The truth is that there is no candidate for president, there are only speculations and hypothetical situations. How is it possible that Kosovo could come to this state, how is it possible that the citizen of Kosovo does not know that we will come to this day. This hypothetical situation has a purpose, for the opposition to surrender and for a person with a license to go to office. This will not happen. The tendency is a stalemate. The tendency is for political disagreements to turn into constitutional interpretation," said Tahiri.

Lushtaku: We will not vote for any candidate proposed by VV

Photo: Driton Pacharada

PDK MP, Mërgim Lushtaku, said that at the PDK Parliamentary Group meeting, they discussed the latest developments regarding the president's issue.

He said that they will not support any candidate imposed by the ruling party, nor Andin Hoti, who was rumored to be a candidate from the Vetëvendosje Movement.

Speaking about a proposal from the PDK, he said that the party he belongs to is ready to give the name of the candidate if there is a political agreement.

As for staying in the hall if a session is called, Lushtaku has stated that they will not do so.

"Our position is the same, we have been in favor of having a consensual candidate for president. We were willing to vote for someone from the Jashari family, but we saw their position. While there are attempts to corner the opposition and impose the candidate  "We do not accept and responsibly stand behind our positions that we have given so as not to be supportive of an authoritarian government. We respect every respected family and we had Andin as a colleague, but he is a subordinate of the ruling party and as long as he is in VV we do not have a vote for him. We will not stay in the hall. PDK is ready to give its name if there is an agreement," he said.

LDK: Responsibility for the president's name belongs to Vetëvendosje

The head of the parliamentary group of the Democratic League of Kosovo, Jehona Lushaku-Sadriu, said that they have not received any invitation from Prime Minister Albin Kurti for any meeting with President Lumir Abdixhiku, and also emphasized that the responsibility for the president's issue lies with the ruling party.

Asked about reports that Vjosa Osmani could become part of the LDK list, she said that everything belongs to the future.

"Up to this moment, the first party bears the responsibility to present a name for president and to call the session with 30 signatures. Up to this moment, we do not have any candidate who has been presented. We have expressed our readiness to participate in the dialogue and in the election process, as we have an obligation and as it belongs to every parliamentary party in a democratic state. For this, we have shown our readiness, but it depends on the largest parliamentary party, which has the numbers to conclude this process and to give it direction. It is truly regrettable that we do not have clarity on the process and do not have a name for president," she said, EO reported.

Lushaku-Sadriu denied that Abdixhiku received an invitation for a meeting from the leader of the LVV.

"I haven't seen that there is a meeting. No, there is no invitation for the chairman, nor for a session. We are just waiting for the invitations," she said.

She hesitated to answer directly whether Osmani will be part of the LDK list, as reported the day before.

"As a parliamentary party, we have been willing to participate in dialogue, in discussions, to come to a consensual name or through a political agreement. The willingness of the LDK has been totally available. We do not have the numbers alone to present any name or to elect the president. Therefore, we have offered our willingness and have participated as much as we could," added Lushaku-Sadriu.

Hamza: We don't have a candidate without prior agreement

Before the start of the meeting of the Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, its chairman, Bedri Hamza, said that his party officially does not have any candidate for president.

Hamza said that no names for candidates were discussed without reaching an agreement in advance.

"No, there is no agreement. We have not proposed because we have not reached the point of proposing at all. We have spoken in principle, we wanted the country to have a president, we hope that there will be a president. We have requested that we agree in advance that the president be elected proposed by the ranks of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, a very dignified name, which does not mean within the structures of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, but it could also be outside the structures of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, who has the attributes and qualities that a president should have," he said.

He said that he has not yet received an invitation from the leader of the Vetëvendosje Movement, Albin Kurti, for any new meeting.

"We have no candidate, it's all speculation. The Democratic Party of Kosovo does not have a candidate for president without prior agreement. No, we do not have an invitation," said Hamza.

Earlier, KOHA reported that the name of the chief academician Justina Pula is the favorite within the party discussions. However, the party has not mentioned specific names publicly.

Haliti: There are 4-5 candidates for president, Andin Hoti has not contacted me

PDK MP Xhavit Haliti said that there are 4-5 candidates who have been mentioned for the post of president, while declaring that there are no ideals in politics.

Asked if he was contacted by the Minister of Labor, Family and Liberation War Values, Andin Hoti, following the news that he is a presidential candidate from the Vetëvendosje Movement, MP Haliti said that he has not been contacted by Hoti.

"So far, 4-5 candidacies have been mentioned. Let's see. In politics, there are no ideals, nor likeability. Andin Hoti has not contacted me. I will support the party's decisions," said Xhavit Haliti in a statement to the media before the PDK parliamentary group meeting began.

"I'm as curious as you are," Kurti responds to journalists about the president

Photo: Driton Pacharada

The leader of the Vetëvendosje Movement, Albin Kurti, has said that he is as curious as journalists about the president's issue.

"I'm just as curious as you," Kurti responded to journalists' questions as he entered the hall where the VV Parliamentary Group is holding a meeting.

The VV WG has met to discuss the issue of the president, who has entered the crucial hours.

The Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Party of Kosovo will also meet at 14:00 PM.