Jashari family members: We have no intention of running for president

2026-02-25 21:30:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Members of the family of Kosovo hero Adem Jashari have denied that they have any intention of running for president of the country, after Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca said on Wednesday that if a name for president were to come from this family, it would be an "automatic consensus" in society.

Kosovo needs to hurry to elect the country's new president by March 4th, to avoid another pair of early elections, as the current president, Vjosa Osmani, ends her term on April 4th.

Osmani does not appear to have the support of parliamentary parties to be re-elected, while so far no other possible names for president have been mentioned, despite the fact that the term is running out.

Speaking after a meeting with Albania's chief diplomat, Elisa Spiropali, Konjufca said that among political parties so far there is consensus only for a president who would come from the Jashari family.

But Murat Jashari, the son of Rifat Jashari, brother of Adem Jashari, later told VOX Kosova that he has no interest or intention to become president of Kosovo, and that "I have made it clear to the political parties what the reasons are for not doing it, because there is a great burden on my shoulders."

Later, Bekim Jashari, the former mayor of Skenderaj, told Radio Free Europe that he maintains the position of his uncle's son, adding "I have nothing to add to this, not a single point or comma."

Konjufca did not want to speak when asked if there was any willingness from the Jashari family on this issue.

Days ago, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti stayed in Prekaz, Skenderaj, with the Jashari family. He confirmed to the media that he had spoken with Rifat Jashari "about political issues."

Names from this family have been mentioned as potential presidential candidates in the past, but none of them have resulted in an official proposal.

Konjufca was also asked about the president's issue during a press conference with her Albanian counterpart, Elisa Spiropali.

He described as positive the meetings that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, also chairman of the Vetëvendosje Movement, has held with the leaders of the two largest opposition parties, Bedri Hamza of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, and Lumir Abdixhiku of the Democratic League of Kosovo, in an attempt to find a solution to the issue of the new head of state.

Konjufca said that the drafters of the Constitution wrote the section on the election of the president with the idea that a simple majority would not have the guarantee to elect him or her on its own, but that this would happen in cooperation with political forces.

He said that the current majority has 66 votes in the Assembly and that to achieve the 80 votes required for president, the support of opposition parties is also needed.

According to him, 80 votes cannot be achieved if a "one-sided name" is proposed.

"So, the conclusion is that through a specific name we should not support the opposition ," he said.

Kurti himself has sought an agreement with PDK and LDK for the presidency, in order to avoid early elections.

PDK has said that they will not be an obstacle to state processes, but they do not support candidacies that do not represent civic unity, while LDK has requested either a political agreement or consensus for the new head of state. /REL