Srpske Vesti reported yesterday that six DSK lawmakers had publicly turned on Sejdiu, calling the two parties’ agreement into question for the first time. Kurti addressed the matter publicly today for the first time, insisting the deal still holds while placing the blame for a possible deadlock on the lawmakers who withheld their votes.
Arberie Nagavci, head of the Vetevendosje parliamentary group, was more pointed in her assessment of the six DSK lawmakers’ move.
“Saying no to a joint proposal aimed at unblocking the institutions is not the right decision and is not in the interest of citizens.”
The dissenting lawmakers are Hikmete Bajrami, Avdullah Hoti, Arben Gashi, Armend Zemaj, Kujtim Shala and Janina Imeri. Kurti and Abdixhiku announced Sejdiu’s candidacy on Monday, August 31. Sejdiu is a law professor at the University of Pristina, a former Constitutional Court judge, and a former ambassador to Turkey and consul general in New York. At the time, Abdixhiku described him as a candidate who would bring institutional balance, warning that failure to agree would push the country toward new snap elections.
The vote count itself is disputed. Radio Free Europe reports that all 53 Vetevendosje lawmakers backed the agreement with the DSK. Radio Gorazdevac, citing the results of the June 7 election, writes that Vetevendosje holds 62 seats, which combined with the DSK’s remaining 12 votes would put the total at 74. Neither figure is enough to elect a president in the first two rounds of voting, which require at least 80 of 120 votes. In a third round, a president can be elected with 61 votes, but only if at least 80 lawmakers are present in the chamber.