Fatmir Limaj, once one of the most powerful figures on the political scene, will roll up his sleeves today to support the Democratic Party of Kosovo, of which he was a member until 2014, in the June 7 elections.
This issue was formalized in a meeting between PDK leader Bedri Hamza and Fatmir Limaj, which was held today during the day.
Hamza confirmed everything in a post he just published on Facebook.
To talk exclusively about the details of the meeting with Bedri Hamza, Fatmir Limaj will be invited to the T7 show "Pressing" tonight, with author Leonard Kerqukin, from 20:30 PM.
Days earlier, Limaj had addressed Hamza with a letter, expressing his willingness to "merge" the Social Democratic Initiative into a joint electoral list.
"The Social Democratic NISMA and I, as its chairman, have continuously expressed, both before these elections and continuously, the readiness for cooperation and political unity in order to create a strong and representative alternative for the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo," he wrote.
"Believing in understanding, mutual respect and the will to cooperate, we remain ready for coordination and further steps regarding this process," Limaj wrote in a letter to the PDK leader on the 8th of this month.
However, the letter did not have the desired effect for the leader of the Initiative.
Three days later, after a leadership meeting, the Democratic Party of Kosovo made the decision.
Bedri Hamza, in a press conference, said that he is a friend of Limaj and that he has worked with him for a long time, but added that this time he "will not be part of the PDK list."
"It has been discussed in the Democratic Party of Kosovo. It is a general position that we expect and welcome the contribution of Mr. Limaj, of the Social Democratic Initiative, which they will give to the PDK in these elections," he said.
Furthermore, Hamza said that they welcome the contribution offered by the chairman of the Social Democratic Initiative and that he is convinced that this support will grow the PDK.
"The list will include girls, women, boys and men with many values. A large part of them will be candidates running for the first time for MP and I am happy that there are prepared people who are joining the ranks of PDK," said Hamza after a meeting of the party's Presidency.
A day later, at 00:00, PDK submitted its list of 110 candidates, without the names of Nisma.
The decision had provoked quite a few reactions within PDK structures. The most commented on was a photo of Limaj with Hashim Thaçi's brothers, drinking coffee together.
The party led by Limaj, the Social Democratic Initiative, did not apply to participate alone in the new elections, as, competing in this way in the December 28 preliminary elections, it failed to pass the 5% electoral threshold.
But Limaj, starting tonight, will be part of the campaign, supporting the Democratic Party of Kosovo, where he was once one of the most voted and most powerful figures.
The agreement to support PDK comes after more than a decade of Fatmir Limaj on the political scene, at the head of the Social Democratic Initiative.
The Democratic Party of Kosovo, in the December 28 elections, managed to secure 20.19 percent of the vote, or 22 seats, ranking second after Albin Kurti's LVV.
Meanwhile, Nisma managed to secure 1.59%, competing alone.
It remains to be seen what effect Limaj will have for PDK in the June 7 elections.
t7 live
