LDK to Support Kosovo Minority Government From Opposition

In a new twist to Kosovo’s complicated post-election coalition talks, the second-placed Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, has said it will support a Vetevendosje-led minority government – without joining it.

Kosovo Parliament. Photo: Atdhe Mulla.

In an abrupt turn of events in Kosovo, the leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, Isa Mustafa, on Thursday said his party was willing to vote for a minority government led by Albin Kurti’s Vetevendosje party – but will stay in opposition and not join it.

The announcement came ahead of Thursday’s constitutive session of the parliament amid fears that no government would be voted into office and that the country could face another round of elections.

The LDK has now pledged to remain in opposition and not take up any posts in the new minority government.

Several hours before the constitutive session, Mustafa had issued a five-point proposal. It included “a proportional division of the ministries, the Prime Minister and one vice-PM to be from Vetevendosje, the speaker of parliament and one vice-PM from the LDK, with vice-speakers of parliament to be chosen in accordance with the constitution. The day the new President is elected, one ministerial position from LDK ranks to go to Vetevendosje”.

If Kurti did not accept this proposal, Mustafa pledged in the name of LDK “to give up all requests for responsibilities, and all positions will be left to Vetevendosje. Then the LDK will vote unconditionally with all its 28 MPs for a Vetevendosje government without the LDK in it”.

He added: “We will give them even the Prime Minister, even the Parliament Speaker and even all 10 ministries.”

During the short constitutive parliament session, Albin Kurti, leader of Vetevendosje, the party that came first in the last elections, proposed Glauk Konjufca for the post of Speaker of Parliament. His position was confirmed, with 75 votes in favour.

As the next step, President Hashim Thaci is expected to nominate the candidate for Prime Minister. In accordance with the election results, Kurti will have 15 days to form a cabinet and seek the approval of parliament.

The new government is expected to have ten ministers from the ranks of Vetevendosje. Two cabinet posts must be from minority ethnic communities, in accordance with the constitution.