Eight days after the certification of the results of the June 7 elections, civil society organizations are calling for no further delays in convening the constitutive session of the Kosovo Assembly. However, the Presidency says parliamentary parties should be given the necessary space to negotiate and reach a political agreement that would enable the formation of institutions, including the election of the president. According to the Constitution, the constitutive session must be held within 30 days of the certification of election results, a deadline that in this case expires on August 7, KosovaPress reports.
The call for the constitution of the Assembly comes after Vetëvendosje Movement leader Albin Kurti held separate meetings last week with Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) leader Bedri Hamza and Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader Lumir Abdixhiku, as part of efforts to find a solution for forming the institutions. However, no concrete agreement was announced following the meetings.
The Presidency told KosovaPress that Acting President Albulena Haxhiu is acting in accordance with her constitutional powers and deadlines, with the aim of ensuring that the new Assembly is constituted with a realistic prospect of forming institutions and avoiding another political deadlock.“Acting President Haxhiu will call the constitutive session of the Assembly within the deadline set by the Constitution. The Constitution stipulates that the constitutive session of the Assembly is called by the President within 30 days from the official announcement of election results. In this case, the deadline expires on August 7. Considering that the deadline for electing the President is 60 days and begins from the day the Assembly is constituted, Acting President Haxhiu believes that political parties should be given the necessary time and space for discussions and reaching an agreement needed by the country for the election of the president. The Acting President is acting within constitutional powers and deadlines, aiming for the new Assembly to be constituted with a real perspective for the creation of institutions and avoiding another blockade,” Haxhiu’s cabinet said in a response to KosovaPress.
Meanwhile, despite political discussions on forming the new institutions, researcher at the Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) Vullnet Bugaqku believes there is no longer any reason to delay setting a date for the constitutive session. According to him, even if political discussions are ongoing, they should not prevent the constitution of the Assembly, while party leaders should be more transparent about their willingness to reach an agreement on forming institutions. On the other hand, researcher at the Kosovo Institute for Justice (IKD), Naim Jakaj, says that a delay of the constitutive session could only be justified if it is used for continuous and intensive consultations between political parties. According to him, without concrete meetings and negotiations, there is no basis for postponing the session.Jakaj added that, given that the election of the president requires a broader political agreement, it would be reasonable for parties to reach a comprehensive agreement within the 30-day constitutional deadline, so that the constitution of the Assembly, formation of the government, and presidential election process can proceed without blockages.
LVV leader and acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti met separately on July 10 with PDK leader Bedri Hamza and LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku to discuss the formation of new institutions. Although no agreement was reached, Kurti said the meetings would continue in the coming days.
The meetings followed the certification of election results by the Central Election Commission (CEC) on July 8. In the elections, the Vetëvendosje Movement came first with 47.13% of the vote, securing 53 seats in the Assembly. The PDK came second with 19.44% and 22 seats, while the LDK won 16.69% and 18 seats. The Alliance received 6.74% and seven seats, while non-majority communities secured 20 seats.
