Kosovo Ends 2-Year Stalemate
Law professor Bekim Sejdiu poised to become president, unlocking EU membership bid
Kosovo's political deadlock has been broken after the ruling party Vetevendosje and the opposition Democratic League of Kosovo agreed to elect a new president. The deal, struck on August 31, proposes law professor Bekim Sejdiu as the candidate for the top job.
Sejdiu, 51, is a law professor at the University of Pristina and has previously served as Kosovo's ambassador to Turkey and as consul general in New York. The two parties, along with several minority parties, can secure more than the 80 votes required to elect a president.
Vetevendosje won 58 seats in the 120-member parliament, while the Democratic League of Kosovo came third with 18 seats. The party of Kosovo's caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti needs only a handful of votes from smaller minority parties to form a government, but lacks the two-thirds parliamentary majority needed to elect a president.
The deal aims to bring stability to the country, which is essential for Kosovo's bid to join the European Union. Brussels has repeatedly stated that Kosovo needs stable institutions capable of delivering reforms required for membership. The country has had three national votes in less than 18 months, with the June 7 snap election triggered by the failure to elect a new president.
## Why it matters Kosovo's political instability has delayed reforms and slowed access to EU funding. The country, one of Europe's poorest, aims to join the European Union and needs stable institutions to deliver the required reforms. The election of a new president is a crucial step towards achieving this goal. It remains unclear when lawmakers will convene to elect a parliamentary speaker, approve a new government, and vote on the presidency.
The agreement between the two parties is a significant breakthrough, and the proposed candidate, Bekim Sejdiu, has expressed his hope that Kosovo will find a way to move forward and confront the major challenges that await it. The deal paves the way for Kosovo to make progress towards EU membership and brings much-needed stability to the country.
