The constitution of the Kosovo Assembly has failed for the sixth time. For the fourth time, Vetëvendosje's candidate for speaker, Albulena Haxhiu, has failed to secure more than 57 votes. PDK and LDK voted against, while three deputies from the Social Democratic Initiative abstained. The next session will be held on Sunday, April 27. You can read all the developments surrounding the constitutive session here.
Kusari-Lila: The deadline for the constitution of the Assembly ends on April 27
Photo: Driton Pacharada
VV MP, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, referred to the Constitution of Kosovo regarding the deadline for the constitution of the Assembly, although the Constitution does not fully clarify this.
She has reiterated that the opposition is blocking the process by voting against the candidate for Speaker of the Assembly.
"It is foreseen in the Constitution that 30 days after the certification of the election result, the Assembly is foreseen to be constituted. That 30-day period is Sunday, April 27. This situation is not something that can go on indefinitely, it could lead to another circumstance where joint discussion with subjects is gradually approaching another election date," she said.
In nArticle 66 of the Constitution states that "The Assembly of Kosovo is elected for a four-year term, starting from the day of the constitutive session, which is held within thirty (30) days from the day of the official announcement of the election results.
According to Kusari-Lila, this is "a door to seek another interpretation of the deadlines."
"There is no Constitutional Court ruling on this procedure, but perhaps this could be the next step," said Kusari-Lila.
Murati: The last option is elections, we ask for reflection on the constitution of the Assembly
Hekuran Murat
Photo: Driton Pacharada
LVV MP Hekuran Murati emphasized that elections are the last option and that LVV has no intention of taking the country to elections.
"It is not our intention to go to elections, that would be the last option for us, if at the end of the day, the Assembly, the deputies refuse to constitute the Assembly, then that remains the last option," Murati declared after the failure to constitute the Assembly.
"It is up to us to call for reflection among the parliamentary subjects who vote," Murati added.
According to him, at this stage, the other parties do not even have a majority.
"We have seen that the other camp that is voting against only has 46 votes, it is not that the votes against are 61, political consensus is needed," he said, adding that political consensus is needed to get out of the situation.
He accused the parties that were in opposition in the previous legislature of, as he said, tactics and blocking the constitution of the Kosovo Assembly.
"The controversies that are being made have more to do with tactics than with any concrete reason. Albulena Haxhiu is the woman who received the most votes in the last elections, so she has every right and it is far from reasonable to say that she does not meet the conditions. In reality, every MP meets the condition and we have gone even further by proposing a woman for Speaker of the Assembly," Murati emphasized, adding that they will not change the name of the candidate for Speaker of the Parliament.
VIDEO: Full statement
Krasniqi: For the whims of one MP, VV is holding the state hostage
"Albin Kurti, as the leader of VV, must replace this candidate" - Krasniqi declared
Photo: Driton Pacharada
The leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Memli Krasniqi, has said that Vetëvendosje is deliberately blocking the constitution of the Assembly because it does not have the numbers for the government.
He reiterated that VV should change its proposal for the candidate for parliamentary speaker, and not act on "one person's whims."
"The blockade is intentional and is coming from VV as the first party to receive the proposal. It is senseless, shameful that for the whims of one person, one candidate, one MP "I remain hostage to the state. This is hostage-taking of the state of Kosovo for the whims of a party and a candidate. They had the opportunity to change the candidate because candidates are not imposed when you do not have a parliamentary majority. The problem is that they do not have a majority, they do not have the numbers for the Government and the fact that Albin Kurti cannot be the next Prime Minister is holding the institutions and the state hostage," he said after the failure of the session for the constitution of the Assembly.
Krasniqi added that there are other names in the ranks of VV that PDK does not vote for as well.
"The first step is personally taken by Albin Kurti as the leader of VV. He must change this candidate. Either he must constitute the assembly or go with a political agreement, go for extraordinary elections, there is no other choice."
The constitution of the Assembly fails for the sixth time
Photo: Driton Pacharada
The constitution of the Kosovo Assembly has failed for the sixth time.
For the fourth time, Vetëvendosje's candidate for speaker of parliament, Albulena Haxhiu, has failed to secure more than 57 votes.
Her name was put to the vote after the proposal made by MP Glauk Konjufca.
"Our only name is Albulena Haxhiu, for Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, I ask for your understanding so that we can unblock the situation we are in," Konjufca said before the voting process.
Balje: We will not change our stance
Duda Balje
The elected MP from the Bosniak community, Duda Balje, has said that she is not changing her position regarding the vote for the speaker of the Kosovo Assembly from Vetëvendosje. She previously stated that she will not vote, while she had previously stated that she will be part of the opposition.
"We are not changing our stance," she said.
Balje expressed disappointment with the Kurti Government's approach towards the community she represents.
VIDEO: Full statement
Limaj: We have not changed our position
The Chairman of the Social Democratic Initiative, Fatmir Limaj, said that their position regarding the constitution of the Assembly has not changed.
"Our position and vote are the same as in the past," Limaj briefly emphasized before the constitutive session resumed.
Limaj and the other two Nisma MPs have abstained from voting for Albulena Haxhiu of LVV for Speaker of Parliament the past three times.
Meetings between parties, Haradinaj: There is no communication at all
Photo: Driton Pacharada
The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, has said that his party is ready to participate in meetings with representatives of other parties.
As he has stated before, he has reiterated that AAK votes for the consensual candidate of VV.
"We have mentioned two names to pave the way, there are probably others that are acceptable."
Haradinaj said that there was no communication at all between LVV and other parties.
"No, as far as I know, there is no communication at all. We are willing to participate in meetings."
PDK: Vetevendosje must unblock the situation
Photo: Driton Pacharada
PDK MP Vlora Çitaku said that the winning party of the elections, the Vetëvendosje Movement, is the one that should unblock the situation for the constitution of the Assembly.
She said that the issue is not whether the PDK has changed its position.
"It is not a question of whether the PDK has changed its position, but whether it has changed its position and whether there are efforts to unblock the situation by the first political entity, the Vetevendosje Movement. They must unblock the situation," said Çitaku.
LDK does not vote for any LVV candidate
Photo: Driton Pacharada
Democratic League of Kosovo MP Armend Zemaj has said that the LDK will continue not to vote for the Vetëvendosje Movement candidate for Speaker of the Parliament.
"Of course we will vote against, of course, as long as this situation is the way LVV has brought the country, behaving as a party that has almost single-handedly won the will of the citizens of Kosovo."
Before the start of the constitutive session, Zemaj emphasized that there is no name from the LVV that the LDK would vote for right now.
"There can be no consensual candidate while the arrogance and the way policies are made, how it attempts to capture institutions, even consensus on any specific name is impossible in this situation," he concluded.
Statements by Vetëvendosje, LDK and PDK:
Rexhaj: There are tendencies for an agreement with the Initiative, it has not been done yet
Vetëvendosje Movement MP, Arbër Rexhaj, said that no agreement has yet been reached between Vetëvendosje and Nisma.
"I know that there was a tendency to make an agreement, that agreement has not yet been made, and I believe that it will be made in the coming days," said Rexhaj, before the start of the constitutive session.
He said that he does not know what was discussed, but there is a tendency to align the demands related to Nisma and Vetëvendosje.
Peci: One party cannot make proposals for another party
Acting Minister of Agriculture, Faton Peci, has said that the solution is to unblock and constitute the Parliament.
"I think that opposition parties or a party cannot make proposals for another party. Whether they vote or not is their choice. The most appropriate and reasonable path is to unblock and move towards the constitution of the Assembly," said Peci.
Asked about reaching an agreement with MP Duda Balje, Peci said he knows something about it, without revealing what the agreement is. "I know something, but I don't know the details," Peci said.
