Friday, August 7, marked the expiration of the constitutional 30-day deadline for certifying the election results for the constitution of the 11th legislature of the Assembly of Kosovo. The day was marked by political clashes, failed negotiations, and an opposition effort to prevent what they described as an unconstitutional violation.
According to the interpretation of civil society and lawyers, the failure to reconvene the Assembly by midnight on Friday constitutes a direct violation of the Constitution and the judgments of the Constitutional Court.
On the very last day of the deadline, the chairman of the session, Avni Dehari (LVV), decided that the session would not continue on Friday, but would be postponed to Saturday, August 8 at 11:00. The Vetëvendosje Movement and the acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, after requesting a postponement on Thursday, justified the request with the need for more time for negotiations on the post of president, without which – according to Kurti – the country risks going to new elections again.
On Friday, Kurti held meetings with LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku, but the parties remained far from an agreement. LDK demanded institutional balance and the right to propose the name of the president. Kurti also sent a letter to PDK leader Bedri Hamza, offering him the rokadë (post of parliamentary speaker for PDK) in exchange for a vote for the president, an offer that was rejected.
The parliamentary groups of PDK, LDK and AAK nevertheless gathered at the Parliament building on Friday evening.
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The constitution of the Assembly fails within the 30-day deadline
The opposition insisted on holding an extraordinary session before midnight to conclude the process within the deadline. However, the opposition MPs were faced with the closed doors of the plenary session hall.
Bedri Hamza, chairman of the PDK, described this situation as an unconstitutional takeover of institutions by the government, warning that the responsibility for new elections or a crisis falls on Albin Kurti, while he did not rule out protests.
Besnik Tahiri, an Alliance MP, called the closing of the doors a "serious blow to parliamentary democracy" and an attempt to turn the state into a party-state.
Meanwhile, Lutfi Haziri from LDK said that staying in the Assembly was "protecting the constitutional order" and announced that LDK will decide in the morning on further steps.
The session is now expected to begin at 11:00 a.m. It is not known whether opposition parties will be part of it.
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Constituent session adjourned, Kurti requests additional time for presidential discussions
In addition to the session announced for 11:00, the monitors of the Assembly's work have called on opposition MPs to immediately address the Constitutional Court to contest the decision to postpone the session and to request a temporary suspension measure.
