No name, no agreement: Why is the candidacy delayed for president?

The parties are not coming out with their own ideas about who the person worthy of that position is, and are awaiting each other's invitation to start discussions.

Donika Emini, from the Balkan Policy Consultative Group in Europe, says opposition parties see them in a very unfavourable position, because despite the quorum required for the president's election, Prime Minister Albin Kurti's Vetevendosje (LVV) Movement has the considerable majority of 57 votes in the Assembly.

However, she believes the process will develop relatively calm, “because no one wants new elections, neither Vetevendosje nor opposition parties”.

What do parties say?

LVV Parliamentary Group head Arberie Nagavci says that for the party she represents, the priority these days has been the constitution of the Assembly and the formation of the Government, while now in line is the adoption of the state budget for 2026.

According to her, next week the discussions “begin for new processes”.

From the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), MP Artan Behrami says that at the moment they accept an invitation from LVV or other parties, they are willing to discuss the name that “personalises the unity of citizens”.

The party's “position is that we must submit to a political dialogue with other political parties, and from that discussion, from these compromises and dialogue, the president or president” will also emerge, he said.
The media failed to secure from a stance by MPs from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) in this direction.

The current AAK leader, Ramush Haradinaj, said days ago that he was offered the major Albanian opposition parties for co-operation on this issue, but has seen that they have no will.

“If the opposition could introduce a candidate of its own, or me, or any party leader, an image, and gather the vote, we would have a balance of power. I'm not a candidate, because I don't have a candidate base, 30 signatures must be”.

And so it is. At least 30 deputies' signatures must ensure that a name is run for president, while two-thirds of the vote should be secured in the 120-seat Assembly to gain that position.

The quorum is reached by 80 deputies. If in the first two votes a candidate does not secure 80 votes, then the third vote is enough to have 61.

Bekim Jashar, of Kosovo's hero's family, Adem Jashar, has been mentioned in the past as the potential candidate for president, but this proposal has never been experienced.

Dils for Osman

The current president, Osmani, has been criticised by opposition parties for being close to LVV. They have said that it does not represent a unifying figure, not to mention something concrete.

On the other hand, Osmani has said he needs a second mandate to continue the good “ ” he said he started.

Her name for the first term had been pushed forward by the LVV. This time, the ruling party is not mentioning any names.

“I am convinced that, based on the mandates that we have, according to the responsible for the state and institutions, we will do everything in our power and we can, to offer the best alternative and support that alternative”, Nagavci says of the REL, broadcast Periscopi.

Amy believes that the reason for a nameless failure has to do with LVV's strategic calculations.

By procrastinating the process, and failing to come up with a concrete name, LVV is buying time. The closer the deadline approaches, the less space the opposition has to organise and come up with a unified” alternative.

Should Osman be given a second mandate?

MP Behram believes not.

“Personally, I think that Mrs. Osmani more can contribute to the opposition as antipod of Kurti Government than as president of the Republic of Kosovo”.

Amy says Osman's performance should be seen from two dimensions. On the domestic level, it cites restrictions the Constitution of Kosovo defines to this role, as well as the frustration it may have existed for its timely approach to political crises, while at the international level it estimates Osman has been evidently more successful.

So, being alone in her image, without comparing it with other candidates that do not exist at the moment, it can be said to be credited for the active role at the international level. This becomes even more important for the fact that Kosovo today more than ever needs a sophisticated diplomacy to navigate a difficult global order”.

Despite the ceremonial presidential role, failure to meet deadlines costs the state.

If Kosovo does not have the new name for the president's position by 4 March, then it should organise new parliamentary elections within 45 days.

If only two Sishes were not enough to be organized over the past year...