EU Office in Kosovo: Constitutional Court should not be subjected to pressure by any person or institution

Gazeta Express

21/05/2020 19:10

The Constitutional Court has denounced the pressure coming from state leaders, president Hashim Thaci and caretaker prime minister Albin Kurti. President Thaci met Ambassadors of Quint on Wednesday and reportedly asked issue a joint statement condemning interference with the Court’s work. The US Embassy does not comment Constitutional Court’s work, whereas British Embassy and the EU Office in Kosovo urge leaders to leave the Court work independently.

The Constitutional Court is expected to issue a ruling next week on whether a decree of President Thaci on nominating a new prime minister is in line with the Constitution or not. Thaci has nominated Avdullah Hoti of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) to form new government, but the decree was challenged by Albin Kurti’s party – the Vetevendosje who say President’s move is unconstitutional.  

The Court dealing with the Vetevendosje’s motion issued on Tuesday a press release condemning as they said pressure of Thaci and Kurti on Court’s work. But both leaders continued Wednesday commenting the work of Constitutional Court, after Kurti said that it is President Thaci who is exerting pressure on them, whereas Thaci after meeting Quint Ambassadors said that respecting of institutions, especially the Constitutional Court is vital.  

The EU Office in Kosovo told Gazeta Express that the Constitutional Court should not be in any way subjected to pressure by any person or institution. “The Constitutional Court as the highest authority dealing with constitutional matters should not be in any way subjected to pressure by any person or institution.  Ensuring its professionalism and independence from political influence lays at the very core of rule of law. This is precisely why its judges are elected by the Assembly by such a high majority,” the EU Office told Gazeta Express in an answer. /GazetaExpress/