Albulena Haxhiu has been elected Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo. She received the support of 66 deputies, 44 were against and eight abstained. After her, all five deputy speakers were voted in. The tenth legislature has been constituted. In her speech, Haxhiu pledged to work responsibly and with equality for all.
Begaj: Albania in support of Kosovo's democratic institutions
The President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, has congratulated Albulena Haxhiu on her election as Speaker of Parliament and the inauguration of the new legislature.
He stressed that Albania continues to remain close to Kosovo and democratic institutions.
"Good work to the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo in the X Legislature! Congratulations, Ms. Albulena Haxhiu, on being elected Speaker of the Assembly! Albania will continue to stand by Kosovo, in support of its democratic institutions and its Euro-Atlantic journey!" Begaj wrote on Facebook.
Osmani wishes Haxhiu: May his mandate be distinguished for important state decisions
President Vjosa Osmani, while congratulating Albulena Haxhiu on her election as Speaker of Parliament and the new Deputy Speakers of Parliament, said that she hopes that this legislature will be distinguished for important state decisions.
On Facebook, she said that the Assembly of the Republic is the foundation of parliamentary democracy and the institution where the will of citizens is materialized.
"I strongly believe that the new leadership of the Assembly will exercise this mandate with democratic responsibility in respect of the Constitution and with commitment to the interest of the Republic of Kosovo. At this important institutional moment, I reiterate the need for inter-institutional and constructive cooperation and full functioning of the Assembly, in the service of strengthening the rule of law, democratic stability, protecting our state and historical values and advancing our Euro-Atlantic agenda. I wish that this mandate will be distinguished for important state decisions, high democratic culture and unwavering commitment to serving the citizens and our Republic! Good work and success in your high state duty!" Osmani wrote.
Deputy Chairmen Elected, Including Simic of Serbian List
Photo: Driton Paçarada
Ardian Gola of the Vetevendosje Movement, Vlora Çitaku of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Kujtim Shala of the Democratic League of Kosovo, Emilja Rexhepi of the multiethnic group and Slavko Simić of the Serbian List have been elected new deputy speakers of the Kosovo Assembly.
They were voted in packs.
They received the support of 104 deputies. Three voted against and six abstained.
Last year, the issue of the deputy speaker from the Serbian community led to a deadlock after the majority refused to vote on the candidates proposed by the Serbian List. The Assembly had elected Nenad Rašić as deputy speaker. After this, the Serbian List appealed to the Constitutional Court, which a few days ago granted the Serbian List, as the majority within the Serbian community, the unlimited right to propose a candidate for deputy speaker of the Assembly even after all the names of its deputies had been exhausted.
Speaker of Parliament Haxhiu: The KLA war was just, it is known who the aggressor was
Photo: Driton Paçarada
In her first speech, Speaker of Parliament Albulena Haxhiu also spoke about the trial against former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army that is taking place at the Special Court in The Hague.
She said that the KLA's war was clear and just. She said that it is known that the crimes were committed by Serbia.
Haxhiu added that he expects the former KLA leaders to return to Kosovo as soon as possible.
"Today we debate freely in this hall thanks to the great sacrifice of our people for freedom, including the liberation war of the KLA. Today we come here after we had the hearing against the former leaders of the KLA all day. The history of the people of Kosovo is clear and fair. The KLA war was a fair war for liberation, it is known who the aggressor was, who committed crimes. Those crimes were committed by Serbia, which never faced justice seriously, on the contrary, the war criminals were recycled into power and were amnestied. We expect the former leaders of the KLA to return to the country as soon as possible, and for these attempts by the Prosecutor's Office to end as soon as possible," she said.
Haxhiu after becoming Speaker of Parliament: I will honor Besim with work, transparency and dedication
Photo: Driton Paçarada
The new Speaker of the Parliament of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, has said that she will return the trust placed in her to take this position with daily work, transparency and full dedication.
In her speech after taking office, she said that she would strive to ensure that each MP finds their own space with the same dignity and respect.
"Today I take on this task with full awareness of the constitutional weight it carries. I will honor this trust with daily work, transparency and full dedication. My duty will be to ensure that the Assembly functions with dignity, transparency and mutual respect, in accordance with the Constitution, laws and parliamentary practices. I will strive for each of you to find your space here with the same dignity and respect, because a functional Assembly is a prerequisite for a strong state and a stable democracy," she said.
Haxhiu pledged that she "will exercise the duty of president with impartiality, integrity and full institutional commitment."
Albulena Haxhiu, new Speaker of the Parliament of Kosovo
Photo: Driton Paçarada
Albulena Haxhiu has been elected Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo for the tenth legislature. On Wednesday, she received 66 votes in favor, while 44 were against. 8 abstained.
Unlike the fact that she now becomes the Speaker of Parliament on her first attempt, in the ninth legislature she failed to obtain a majority in several attempts.
In the December 28 elections, Albulena Haxhiu was the most voted woman for deputy. She received more than 174 thousand votes.
Before becoming Speaker of the Parliament, Haxhiu was also Minister of Justice for four years.
Biography of the new Speaker of the Parliament
Albulena Haxhiu was born in Pristina, on May 11, 1987, where she lives with her family. She is married and the mother of three children.
She completed her studies at the Faculty of Law at the University of Pristina to continue with postgraduate studies at the South East European University, in criminal law.
She began her political activity in September 2010, joining the Vetëvendosje Movement. In 2013, she became a member of parliament for VV. Haxhiu managed to be re-elected as a member of parliament in subsequent legislatures.
In the fifth and sixth legislatures, he led the Committee on Legislation, and the Subcommittee on Mandates, Immunities and Regulations of the Assembly.
In the 2019 elections, VV won the parliamentary elections, in which case Albulena Haxhiu was appointed Minister of Justice in the Kurti I Government.
After the elections of February 14, 2021, Haxhiu was reappointed Minister of Justice in the Kurti II Government. She held the position until February 2025, when she was elected as an MP and nominated for Speaker of Parliament.
The new deputies are sworn in
The 118 deputies of the tenth legislature of the Assembly have been sworn in.
"I, a member of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, swear that I will honorably and with dedication perform my duty and represent the people with dignity, work in the interest of Kosovo and all its citizens, commit myself to the protection and respect of constitutionality and legality, to the protection of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and institutional integrity of Kosovo, to guarantee freedoms and human rights, in accordance with the laws of the country. I swear!", the text of the Oath reads.
It was finally signed by the deputies.
We will now proceed with the election of the chairman and vice-chairmen in the last two items on the agenda.
The mandates of the new deputies are verified
Photo: Driton Paçarada
The mandates of the new deputies of the Assembly of Kosovo have been verified.
It is now expected to proceed with the oath and other items on the agenda of the constitutive session.
This verification was done with the vote of 118 deputies present.
Fatmir Spahiu: I will not be Minister of Culture
Actor Fatmir Spahiu has announced that he will not become Minister of Culture, despite being proposed when Albin Kurti and Glauk Konjufca sought votes for prime minister during last year's blockade.
In a post on Facebook, he briefly said that he will not be a minister.
"Dear friends, A response to all of you who have written to me these days, and especially today. I will not be Minister of Culture! Thank you for your interest! "All the best! Love you Bufi," he wrote.
Kurti had already announced that there would be changes in names.
The constitutive session of the Assembly begins
Photo: Driton Paçarada
The constitutive session of the tenth legislature of the Assembly of Kosovo has begun.
It is being led by Avni Dehari of the Self-Determination Movement as the oldest member of Parliament.
Fatma Taçi from the KDTP, as the youngest MP, provides assistance.
The Assembly immediately formed the Temporary Committee for the Verification of the Quorum and the Mandates of the Deputies. Its members are Adnan Rrustemi of VV, Përparim Gruda of PDK, Armend Zemaj of LDK, Sërgjan Popović of the Serbian List, Albana Bytyqi of AAK and representatives of other community parties.
Kurti: We aim for a successful constitution of the Parliament and the formation of a new government
Photo: Driton Paçarada
Acting Prime Minister, also the leader of the Vetëvendosje Movement, Albin Kurti, has said that they are aiming for the successful constitution of the tenth legislature and the formation of a new government.
Entering the Parliament building for the constitutive session, he briefly stated these goals to the media.
"We are aiming to be successful in constituting the Assembly and then forming the government," he said./KP
Berisha: I believe we will be part of the government cabinet
The elected MP from the Egyptian community, Veton Berisha, before the start of the constitutive session of the Kosovo Assembly, said that they have repeatedly voted for the proposal for the Speaker of the Assembly and will vote again today.
Asked if he will be part of the government cabinet, Berisha stated that they have not discussed this issue with the acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, but he believes he will be part of it.
"Last time, we voted for the proposal for the Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo repeatedly. I continue to vote because I consider it an obligation for me in the Assembly of Kosovo. I believe that we will be part of the government cabinet, but we have not discussed it yet. We are to start the work of the institutions as soon as possible," Berisha said in a statement to the media.
Zemaj: We will not vote for the Speaker of the Parliament without a political agreement
Photo: Driton Paçarada
Elected LDK MP Armend Zemaj said that it is up to the winning party to secure the votes for the formation of institutions and not to continue with the blockade like last year.
He said that they will not vote for any candidate for Speaker of the Assembly if there is no political agreement.
"We have never linked our decisions to specific names, all we have said is that without a political agreement we will not vote for any candidate. We will participate in the vote, the vote is open, there are three ways to vote, for, against and abstention. We will choose what we have determined, I said that we do not vote for a political agreement, with an agreement of course", said Zemaj, before the start of the constitutive session.
These are the MPs with the most mandates
Photo: Driton Paçarada
Xhavit Haliti of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, with his return as a member of the Assembly, continues to be the member of parliament who has been part of the most legislatures. Out of 10, he is now part of eight legislatures.
After him, comes the current Speaker of the Assembly, Glauk Konjufca, with seven. Ganimete Musliu, Nait Hasani, Elmi Reçica and Blerta Deliu-Kodra of the PDK also have the same number of mandates.
Armend Zemaj of LDK, Time Kadrijaj of AAK and Duda Balje from the Bosniak community also have seven mandates each.
Rashic: I will vote for any candidate for deputy speaker of the Assembly who comes in the package
Photo: Driton Paçarada
The MP elected from the Serbian community, Nenad Rashic, has expressed optimism that he will be proposed again as Minister for Communities and Returns.
Before the constitutive session of the Kosovo Assembly begins, Rašić, in a statement to the media, said that he will vote for any candidate for vice president who comes in the package and that he respects the judgments of the Constitutional Court.
"We have not yet heard the Prime Minister present the government cabinet, but of course I have been proposed twice before for the position of Minister of Communities and Returns. The candidate for Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo will be Albulena Haxhiu. I will vote for any candidate for Deputy Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo when they come in the package, and not just me, but everyone. We must respect the Constitutional Court," said Rashiq.
AAK expects the Assembly to be constituted: Kosovo has lost a lot
The elected MP of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Besnik Tahiri, has stated that they expect the Assembly to be constituted today.
At the beginning of the constitutive session, Tahiri said that Kosovo lost a lot in last year's blockade.
"No other conversation is important. Kosovo has lost a lot for a year of deadlock in the previous legislature. We believe that the Assembly will be constituted today," he said.
Deputies are presented with brooches featuring the figures of former KLA leaders who are being tried in The Hague
Photo: Driton Paçarada
Some citizens welcomed the elected deputies in front of the Parliament building and gave them brooches with the images of former KLA leaders who are being tried in the Special Court.
The action took place before the start of the constitutive session.
Meanwhile, Vlora Çitaku, vice president of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, has announced that in the first working session of the Kosovo Assembly, they will request that a resolution be approved for the process in the Special Court.
In a press conference, she and Përparim Gruda presented the resolution, which they said was drafted by independent experts. This statement was made shortly before the constitutive session of the Parliament and during the day when the defense of Hashim Thaçi, who along with Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi, was given the floor in The Hague for his defense.
PDK demands resolution for Special Court in first session of new legislature
Vlora Çitaku, vice president of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, has announced that in the first working session of the Kosovo Assembly, they will request the adoption of a resolution for the process in the Special Court.
In a press conference, she and Përparim Gruda presented the resolution, which they said was drafted by independent experts. This statement was made shortly before the constitutive session of the Parliament and during the day when the defense of Hashim Thaçi, who is being accused of war crimes, was given the floor in The Hague.
Gruda announced that this resolution requires that the process in The Hague “return to the tracks of European standards for a fair and impartial trial.” He said that it also requires that the Ombudsman play its role.
Agenda of the constitutive session
Photo: Archive
Photo: Driton Paçarada
Starting at 17:00 PM, the constitutive session of the tenth legislature of the Assembly of Kosovo will be held.
The agenda, according to the regulation, contains four points. The Assembly is considered constituted with the election of the President and Vice-Presidents.
Agenda of this session:
1. Formation of the temporary Commission for the verification of the quorum and the mandates of the deputies,
2. Oath of deputies,
3. Election of the President of the Assembly,
4. Election of the Deputy Speakers of the Assembly.
The Speaker of the Assembly is proposed by the largest parliamentary group and is elected by a majority of votes of all deputies. Three vice-chairmen are proposed by the largest groups, while two others are proposed by the communities (one from the Serbs and one from the others). The Constitutional Court a few days ago gave the Serbian List, as the majority within the Serb community, the unlimited right to propose a candidate for vice-chairman of the Assembly even after all the names of its deputies have been exhausted.
This time, according to the current chairman Dimal Basha, there is agreement from the parties that the voting for the vice-chairmen will be done in batches.
The constitutive session is chaired by the oldest member of parliament, assisted by the youngest. There is no debate in the constitutive session.
What names did Kurti and Konjufca propose for ministers during the blockade?
Photo: Driton Paçarada
On October 26 of last year, Albin Kurti, as the candidate to form the government, received only 56 votes and failed in his attempt.
Glauk Konjufca suffered a similar fate weeks later in the second attempt during the almost year-long institutional blockade.
Now, on February 11, 2025, the Assembly will hold its constitutive session following the December 28 elections. Kurti and Vetëvendosje alone have secured 57 seats in the Assembly and are expected to form a majority only through cooperation with the communities.
A day earlier, VV officials announced that immediately after the constitution of the Assembly, a session to form the Government would be held.
Kurti has already announced changes in the names he will present for the new Government, compared to the cabinet presented in October.
The names that have already been confirmed to be repeated for the positions as in the first presentation are Glauk Konjufca as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mimoza Kusari as Minister of Trade, and Albulena Haxhiu as Speaker of Parliament.
Unlike the previous blockade, the current Speaker of Parliament Dimal Basha has announced that there is agreement for a package vote of all deputy speakers of the Assembly.
List of names presented by Kurti on October 26, 2025:
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Glauk Konjufca,
Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Donika Gërvalla,
Third Deputy Prime Minister for Minority Affairs and Cooperation, Fikrim Damka,
Minister of Finance and Economy, Hekuran Murati,
Minister of Family and Social Welfare, Andin Hoti,
Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci,
Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Sveçla,
Minister of Public Administration and Digitalization, Lulëzon Jagxhiu,
Minister of Health, Arben Vitia, Minister of Education and Science, Avni Zogiani,
Minister of Culture and Tourism, Fatmir Spahiu,
Minister of Sports and Youth, Blerim Gashani,
Minister of Local Government Administration, Rasim Demiri,
Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, Fitore Pacolli,
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Armend Muja,
Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Dimal Basha,
Minister of Trade, Industry and European Integration, Mimoza Kusari,
Minister of Energy and Mining, Artane Rizvanolli,
Minister for Communities and Returns, Nenad Rashic,
Minister of Regional Development, Sejnur Vejshall.
Meanwhile, on November 19, Glauk Konjufca, who had proposed these names for the government cabinet, also failed as a prime minister-designate before the deputies:
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Albin Kurti.
Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Donika Gërvalla,
Third Deputy Prime Minister for Minority Affairs and Cooperation, Fikrim Damka,
Minister of Finance and Economy, Hekuran Murati,
Minister of Family and Social Welfare, Andin Hoti,
Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci,
Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Sveçla,
Minister of Public Administration and Digitalization, Lulzon Jagxhiu,
Minister of Health, Arben Vitia,
Minister of Education and Science, Avni Zogiani,
Minister of Culture and Tourism, Fatmir Spahiu,
Minister of Sports and Youth, Blerim Gashani,
Minister of Local Government Administration, Rasim Demiri,
Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, Fitore Pacolli
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Armend Muja,
Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Besnik Bislimi,
Minister of Trade, Industry and European Integration, Mimoza Kusari-Lila,
Minister of Energy and Mining, Artane Rizvanolli,
Minister for Communities and Returns, Nenad Rashic,
Minister of Regional Development, Sejnur Vejshall.
The Assembly awaits the 10th legislature
Photo: Driton Paçarada
120 deputies elected in the December 28 elections will gather at 17:00 PM in the Assembly hall, in the session called for the constitution of the 10th legislature.
The Speaker of the ninth legislature, Dimal Basha, after a meeting with representatives of parliamentary parties, announced that during the session there was an agreement to vote on the deputy speakers in a package.
After this session, according to announcements from officials of the Vetëvendosje Movement, it is expected that the session for the formation of the Government will proceed immediately.
President Vjosa Osmani scheduled the constitutive session for Wednesday, just one day after the Central Election Commission certified the results of the December 28 elections.
In the December 28 elections, the Vetëvendosje Movement won more than 51 percent, or 57 seats in the Assembly. The Democratic Party of Kosovo took 22 seats, the Democratic League of Kosovo 15, and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo 6. 20 seats are reserved for communities.
The last elections did not produce a majority coalition. Institutions have not been formed since February 9, when they were held, and Kosovo has entered an institutional crisis. As a result of the lack of institutions, the Assembly has not yet approved the 2026 budget nor the multi-million dollar international agreements.
In addition to them, the Assembly is obliged to elect the president by March 4, a month before Vjosa Osmani's mandate ends.