Vujinovic: Osmani’s return to the LDK would mean her taking over the party

Security studies researcher Nikola Vujinovic says that the possibility of political cooperation between Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) is becoming increasingly visible and told Kosovo Online that in such a case, Osmani would take over the party.

Vujinovic believes that a potential coalition between Osmani and the LDK, which media in Pristina have been speculating about, has become more realistic than before, pointing to a change in the party’s stance toward the Kosovo president.

“Ms. Osmani was heavily criticized by the LDK, especially by the party’s main political representatives, such as Mr. Isa Mustafa and Mr. Avdullah Hoti. But now we see that they have literally changed their tune within 24 hours – they are giving her support, backing the decree on the dissolution of the Assembly and condemning the attacks against her that followed that move,” Vujinovic said.

He added that this points to an increasingly realistic possibility of political rapprochement.

“I would say that from that perspective it is becoming more and more realistic. Of course, with the reservation that the Constitutional Court of Kosovo may decide that the dissolution of the Assembly was not constitutional. In that case there would be no elections and then it is questionable what would happen with their future. But in any case, it seems much more realistic to me than seven days ago. At that time, I would have strongly opposed the thesis that this would happen, but now it seems that it is truly a reality that could occur in the future,” Vujinovic said.

Speaking about who would benefit more from such cooperation, Vujinovic believes that Vjosa Osmani would gain the most.

“Definitely Osmani. Mr. Lumir Abdixhiku is in very big trouble with his party. He survived a difficult electoral defeat and offered his resignation, but it was not accepted. I think that the arrival of Ms. Osmani, especially if her name were first on the list, would essentially mean her taking over the LDK,” he said.

He added that such a scenario could change internal relations within the party.

“We see that even within the Guxo coalition, which is her original political party, certain changes are taking place, so it is likely that she would bring some of her associates with her. In that case, the LDK would become Ms. Osmani’s party, while Mr. Abdixhiku would move to the background, although I believe he supports this thinking that he will find a way to survive politically,” Vujinovic said.

He recalled that some of the older LDK members who founded the party together with Ibrahim Rugova have a reserved attitude toward the current leadership.

“Most of the older LDK representatives, who founded the party together with Mr. Rugova, are opponents of Mr. Abdixhiku and are now welcoming Ms. Osmani. Because of that, I expect that she could become the new face of the LDK and that with her the party might stop losing support,” he said.

Speaking about the possibility that such a political bloc could become a serious opponent to Albin Kurti, Vujinovic is skeptical.

“The chances are extremely small. Her arrival can only prevent their further decline. They already suffered a historic defeat in December, so a fight against Kurti for them, unfortunately, is not possible,” he said.

According to him, an additional problem for the LDK could be the topics that have been imposed in public discourse, which do not favor the party.

“Especially if it happens that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) brings back Mr. Hashim Thaci, the LDK would then truly be in a huge problem. The topics imposed in Kosovo and Metohija are not topics the LDK can handle well, as Mr. Kurti can through pressure on the Serbian community, or as the PDK can when it comes to the legacy of the Kosovo Liberation Army,” Vujinovic assessed.

“That is why I think Osmani can help the LDK, but it will probably not bring the result they hope for,” he concluded.