Vetevendosje and LDK parties in Kosovo have agreed to back the election of a new president, potentially ending nearly two years of political deadlock. The proposed candidate, law professor Bekim Sejdiu, could help stabilize institutions needed for EU membership.
The agreement to elect a president is crucial for Kosovo to form stable institutions, which is a prerequisite for its EU membership aspirations and accessing vital EU funding.
Kosovo's ruling Vetevendosje party and the opposition Democratic League of Kosovo have reached an agreement to elect a new president, potentially resolving a political deadlock that has persisted for nearly two years. The proposed candidate is Bekim Sejdiu, a 51-year-old law professor at the University of Pristina, who has previously served as Kosovo's ambassador to Turkey and consul general in New York.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti's Vetevendosje party secured 58 seats in the 120-member parliament in the June 7 snap election. While this is enough to form a government with smaller minority parties, Kurti lacks the two-thirds majority needed to elect a president. The agreement with LDK, which holds 18 seats, along with support from other minority parties, is expected to provide the necessary votes.
Kosovo, one of Europe's poorest nations, is striving for European Union membership. Brussels has emphasized the need for stable institutions capable of implementing reforms required for accession. Political instability has hindered these reforms and slowed access to EU funding. The election of a president is largely ceremonial but vital for institutional stability.
Failure to elect a president had previously triggered the June snap election, the third national vote in less than 18 months. It remains uncertain when lawmakers will convene to elect a parliamentary speaker, approve a new government, and formally vote on the presidency.