
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on September 30 that Bekim Sejdiu remains the Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) candidate for president, despite his withdrawal from the race. He called for new meetings with the opposition six days before the deadline for electing a head of state.
"As for the candidate, we have the candidate. The candidate is Professor Bekim Sejdiu from the agreement," Kurti said at a press conference.
The LVV and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) had proposed Sejdiu as a joint candidate on August 31. But, a day later, six LDK MPs spoke out against his candidacy.
Sejdiu, a former Constitutional Court judge and former diplomat, announced his withdrawal on September 14, citing the lack of necessary parliamentary support and internal political clashes.
Kurti, meanwhile, interpreted Sejdiu's decision as conditioned by the situation created after the non-implementation of the agreement, for which he blamed the six LDK MPs.
"From the point of view of the Vetëvendosje Movement, we have a political agreement and I believe we should respect it," he said, adding that his party has no other name.
Kurti did not clarify whether he had talked to Sejdiu about a possible return to the race or whether he was willing to run again.