Kosovo President says any party proving parliamentary majority can form new Government

Gazeta Express

22/04/2020 18:23

Kosovo president Hashim Thaci says all political parties but Vetevendosje are against holding early elections and concluded that any party or coalition proving a parliamentary majority is eligible to form new Government.

The President of Kosovo convened today all political parties represented in Parliament to discuss creation of new Government after no-confidence vote in Albin Kurti’s Government last month. Thaci told political leaders that he has sent five letters to Vetevendosje, asking them to propose a name for prime minister, but has not heard back from them.

Thaci asked one question to all political leaders: whether they support early elections or are in favour of creation of a new government based on the results of October 2019 elections. The Vetevendosje representative, Albulena Haxhiu, who attended the meeting warned Thaci of Constitutional violation if he moves forward with plans to give the mandate to other parties by sidestepping the Vetevendosje. She read a letter on behalf of the leader of the party, Albin Kurti, who said the Vetevendosje has never rejected the President’s request to propose a new candidate for prime minister. The Vetevendosje won 6 October 2019 elections but Kurti’s Government was ousted on 25 March after only 50 days of work following a successful no-confidence motion in Parliament initiated by junior coalition partner – the LDK due to disagreements over handling of COVID-19 crisis and abolishing of tariffs on Serbian goods.

According to the Constitution of Kosovo, only the winner of elections can propose a new candidate to form the Government, but there are ambiguities when it comes to deadlines. The Vetevendosje leader in his letters sent to Thaci earlier said that they will send their nomination in due time reminding him that currently the caretaker government is focused primarily on containing COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the Vetevendosje is insisting the only solution to overcome political stalemate is holding early elections and accused Thaci of trying to avoid them and give other parties the mandate to form new Government. Thaci said on Wednesday that it is not in his discretion to propose new PM’s name and is up to political parties proving parliamentary majority in Parliament to make such a proposal. On the other hand, the Vetevendosje representative and caretaker minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, told media after today’s meeting that they will ask for the Constitutional’s Court opinion if Thaci and parties move ahead with plans to create new Government without the Vetevendosje.

The chairman of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Isa Mustafa, whose party was ranked as second in last year’s election, said the LDK is ready to propose a candidate once the President asks them to. He met on Wednesday with leaders of other parties, Ramush Haradinaj of AAK and Fatmir Limaj of Nisma, in an effort to create majority in Parliament. Mustafa is counting also on votes of MPs representing Serbian community and other non-Serb minorities to create simple majority of 61 votes in a 120-seated Parliament. Leader of the Srpska List, Goran Rakic, said they will not become an obstacle to form new Government, implying that he is in favour of a government without elections.

Kadri Veseli leader of the PDK, biggest opposition party in Parliament, in his addressing during the meeting with President Thaci said his party will remain in opposition, adding however that they are in favour of ousting the Government and accused Kurti’s Cabinet of failing to handle the coronavirus crisis and violating the Constitution with the restriction measures they have introduced which the Court has ruled as unconstitutional. /GazetaExpress/