Haziri, Sejdiu, Shala and Veliu, the leading candidates for LDK chairman, Isa Mustafa is out of the race

Former senior official of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Astrit Haraqija, has suggested that in the interior elections of this party, the president of the branch of this party in Gjakova. He has mentioned four main contenders for LDK chairman. In this interview given to the newspaper “The new age”, Haraqi has declared that Lutfi Haziri, Agim Veliu, Mejim Shala and Fatmir Sejdiu are the top contenders for the first LDK. “Each of the possible candidacys for LDK chairman, mentioned in the media, has its own values. But, the most serious candidate for LDK chairman, I think, are Lutfi Haziri, Fatmir Sejdiu, Kujtim Shala and Agim Veliu. Next thing I don't see right now, there may be ambitions for LDK chairman. In the current situation within the LDK, these four figures are viewed as the main contenders for the post of LDK chairman”, Haraqi has said.

He has denied the possibility that current LDK chairman Isa Mustafa will run again for the first LDK. It could be, but I don't think this will happen. I believe that Mr. Mustafa is very well aware and does not enter this game anymore. I don't think he gets into this game, because that's not good for his age. So, I don't think he's going to be able to correct himself at the age of”, he says.

The former senior LDK official has said he will no longer repeat the 2006 Parliament political subject. According to him, the departure of an dissatisfied individual may occur, but there can be no division. Any disgruntled individual may leave, but there will be no LDK divisions. This party is not provincial and does not belong only to one group. For example, the group of Llap, Gjilan, or Dukagjin. The LDK is all over Kosovo, and I believe that there are so many capable people who will not allow the 2006 Assembly” to be repeated, Haraqi has said.

“ Mr. The archaqi, internal elections in the LDK have been announced. Will you be part of this election process?

Foreground: In LDK elections have even begun. This job is 50 to 50. Somewhere they're saying they've started elections and elsewhere yet. They're not making any statements about it, but they're keeping it secret. I believe the LDK elections will begin and end in May. Of course I will be part of this process.

“ Who is trying to keep this election process secret?

Foreground: Those who decide on this job. I still haven't heard someone publicly say the process is open. One branch has reportedly opened the election, while another branch has not announced it. The elections should be announced by decision by the General Council, which the LDK's Headship proposes. Until now, though, I have not officially seen such a thing. However, as far as I have heard in the media, internal elections have begun on several branches.

“ Where are you going to be, and what do you want?

Foreground: I'll start from the seventh underside of the LDK branch in Gjakova. It's the biggest subside in this municipality. It will aim to elect president of the LDK branch in Gjakova.

“ Do you believe that you will be supported by the LDK electorate in this municipality?

Foreground: Of course I do. I'm in everyday communication with the electorate. I don't write books, but I deal with electorates every day. Even though I am the opposition to the LDK branch and the opposition in the centre of LDK, I still have regular contacts with the electorate and activists of this party.

“ As you know, you don't have good reports with the LDK central leadership. How much could this hinder you in this process?

Foreground: I don't have bad reports with anybody. Why do they take my criticism personal, it's their problem, not mine. I am with the Rugovian spirit to unite people and not to leave. When we can talk to the Serbian List and others, why we can't talk to each other. I don't understand that.

“ How do you anticipate the election process in the LDK?

Foreground: The current leadership of this party should be clear that the LDK is the academy for other political parties. All other developments depend on this party. The LDK is an institutional party and is a party to preserve the state, not as if it is acting now. Even with President Rugova when we won the elections, we never came out of parliament and never sabotaged parliament. No matter who's in charge of state institutions, we have to preserve them. While individual whims and night sorrows don't impress me. As President Rugova has said, we have the electorate, but we are the leaders.

“ Already, some senior LDK officials have even announced the candidacy for LDK chairmanship. How did you see these candidacys?

Foreground: I've seen that someone has publicly spoken of claims for LDK chairmanship, but someone is saying they haven't officially introduced them to party leadership. Everyone has the right to target this post, but it doesn't now mean 50 candidates, because that's not logical. I believe it would also be good for domestic democracy and for the party to have three or four candidates. Even in 2006 there were two candidates. There should be only one candidate for LDK chairman.

“ Gjilan Mayor Lutfi Haziri has publicly declared he will run for the first LDK. Also, the former leader of this party, Fatmir Sejdiu, has left the opportunity open. But the media as a potential candidate have mentioned MP Vjosa Osmani. Which of the top officials in this party do you see as the frontrunner?

Foreground: Each of the possible candidacys for LDK chairman who is mentioned in the media has its own values. But the most serious candidates for LDK chairman think there are Lutfi Haziri, Fatmir Sejdiu, Kujtim Shala and Agim Veliu. Someone else I don't see now that there may be ambitions for LDK chairman. In the current situation within the LDK, these four figures see key contenders for the post of LDK chairman.

“ Which of these four figures do you think is most likely to take office?

Foreground: Of the 300 thousand LDK members I brought four figures. Now don't put pressure on me with the tíi mentions two more figures. Big jobs aren't done overnight.

“ Has the possibility of even Isa Mustafa running back for the first of this party never been ruled out?

Foreground: As the possibility may be, but I don't believe this will happen. I believe that Mr. Mustafa is very well aware and does not enter this game anymore. I don't think he gets into this game. Such a thing would not be good even for his age, and I don't think he'd grow old.

“ Since the post of LDK leader is being targeted by many individuals, the expectations of this party's political competitors are that this process can divide the LDK as happened earlier. Could the 2006 Assembly be repeated?

Foreground: I don't think there will be any rivalry that will lead the party into a new rift. There have been repeatedly LDK exits. I remember the time when the group of political prisoners left, Hydjet Hyseni, Edita Tahiri and other groups. The LDK is a big house and I don't believe what happened again in the 2006 Parliament. A disgruntled individual may leave, but there will be no LDK divisions, because this party is not provincial and does not belong only to one group. For example, the group of Llap, Gjilan, or Dukagjin. The LDK is all over Kosovo, and I believe there are so many capable people who will not allow the 2006 Parliament to repeat itself.

“ To escape a possible clash of groups within the LDK, Lutfi Haziri has proposed that for LDK chairman there be a political agreement within the party. Do you see that possible?

Foreground: I think that's normal. Every corner in the world, even in the CDU, has opposition within a party. When a party sits down and negotiates with other political parties, why not negotiate with potential factions within it. This is possible. At least it would be great to have an agreement to figure out who's first, who's second and who's fifth.