The bridges of cooperation that Vjosa Osmani built with Albin Kurti’s party, Lëvizja Vetëvendosje, in 2021 have weakened. Osmani had previously left Lidhja Demokratike e Kosovës (LDK) to form a new political initiative and enter into a coalition with Kurti’s party. Now that her position as President has turned into a clash with the ruling party, discussions about a possible return to LDK have begun. On this issue, Osmani is not rejecting the idea, and neither is the party itself.“I will do what is in the interest of the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo.
”This is a phrase that President Vjosa Osmani has often repeated whenever she has been asked about her political future after her mandate as head of state ends.She had given the same answer when she was hoping for support from Vetëvendosje to be elected President again. However, now that the party has left her out of its candidacy and instead proposed Glauk Konjufca, Osmani repeated the same statement in an interview last night. This time, however, it seems she sees her future possibly in her former party, the LDK.
When asked whether she will remain politically active after that date, Osmani said:“I will look for the best opportunity to help the Republic move forward. What that opportunity will be depends a lot on the circumstances. Politics is sometimes unpredictable; we simply have to give our contribution with our whole being and keep the country’s interest as the priority. That is what matters most.”There have also been signals from LDK itself that it would not oppose Osmani’s return.The head of the LDK Parliamentary Group, Jehona Lushaku, was asked by journalists whether the current president would return to run with LDK if the country goes to new elections. Lushaku replied:“All of that belongs to the future.”Meanwhile, the leader of LDK, Lumir Abdixhiku, has been among the main opposition supporters of Osmani’s recent decisions during the new political deadlock related to the election of the President.
On March 5, before the start of the presidential vote, he was also asked about Osmani’s possible return to LDK.“These issues are always discussed in the very near future. LDK has never had a rejecting stance toward Osmani, even regarding this process,” he said.During an iftar hosted in Lipjan, Osmani was heard speaking to attendees about the importance of maintaining bridges of cooperation.“Leave bridges of communication, because you never know—one day we may end up at the same table again, like today. With calmness, love, sincerity, and respect. There is no need to burn all the bridges of cooperation.”Osmani had parted ways with LDK in September 2020 due to disagreements with the party over governing cooperation with Vetëvendosje at the time.While she gave no clear answer about LDK and a possible return, last night when speaking about the split of the Kurti–Osmani partnership, she made sure to mention the former leader of the party, Ibrahim Rugova.At that point, she emphasized that the institution of the President “was built by Ibrahim Rugova.
”“Differences in opinions should be normal in a democracy. I repeat, this institution was built by President Ibrahim Rugova as a strong institution one that protects democracy, the Constitution, and alliances, especially the sacred alliance with the United States of America. This is what I have done, and this is how I will leave it on April 4,” she said
