
Prime Minister Albin Kurti's Vetëvendosje Movement (LVV) has nominated Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca for president of Kosovo, and has called on other parties to propose their own candidate.
Konjufca is the only candidate proposed so far, as the constitutional deadline for electing the president approaches.
The Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, said that in order to call a session to elect the president, at least two candidates are needed in the race.
"Until we have at least two candidates who have not secured 30 signatures for the presidential race, I cannot call the session to elect the president," said Haxhiu.
She added that we still have "30 hours" until the end of the constitutional deadline for electing a new president.
In proposing Konjufca, LVV said on Facebook that as a political entity "it is convinced that in our country there are many names worthy of this important state position, around whom a consensus could be built to move forward."
"At this stage, new elections would be completely unnecessary," the ruling party said.
The reaction of the opposition parties was immediate.
The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) said on Facebook that “the approach of the Vetëvendosje! Movement does not reflect a serious effort to build this consensus.”
According to the LDK, due to the "irresponsible political approach of the VV, the country is heading towards exceeding constitutional deadlines and risks being sent to yet another round of new elections."
From the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), MP Vlora Çitaku said that "it is now clear: Albin Kurti does not seek a solution, but total power."
Çitaku wrote on Facebook that "at a time when Kosovo needs more than ever prudence, unity and state responsibility, he is consciously pushing the country towards a new political crisis."
Sources within the PDK told Radio Free Europe that the party's MPs do not attend the session at all "as long as there are party candidates without a political agreement."
The current president, Vjosa Osmani, expires on April 4, while according to the Constitution, the new president must be elected 30 days before the end of the current president's term.