Vjosa Osmani elected new president of Kosovo

English

Gazeta Express

04/04/2021 20:06

Kosovo Parliament elected Sunday Vjosa Osmani as new president after receiving 71 votes in the third round, following the inconclusive first two rounds of voting.

Osmani who on 14 February election was the most voted candidate in Kosovo running with Vetevendosje’e selection list, was elected as new president after a failed vote on Saturday due to lack of required quorum after opposition parties boycotted the session. The opposition parties – Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) boycotted the vote, whereas the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MPs attended the voting process although three MPs of their caucus have boycotted the voting.

The ruling coalition convinced two MPs representing non-Serb communities, Adem Hodza of the Unique Gorani Party and Fadil Gashi of Romani Initiative to have a successful vote Sunday. Also a PDK MP Adelina Grianca has attended the final vote of round, which prompted reaction of the PDK who stated that Grainca was dismissed from all positions within this opposition party for attending the voting process. The PDK also accused the Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti of bargaining with Grainca and her family promising her privileges in exchange of vote.

Osmani was senior official of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and in the previous legislature she held the position of the Speaker of the Assembly. She was also acting president of Kosovo after former president Hashim Thaci resigned in November 2020 after the Hague based Specialist Chambers filed an indictment against him on war crimes.

Osmani became known as the LDK official by criticizing former president Thaci and his policies. Recently she had a clash also with the LDK leaders which led to her exclusion from the party. In 2019 election Osmani was candidate for prime minister representing the LDK but she lost the election, and the prime minister was appointed Albin Kurti, the leader of the Vetevendosje. /GazetaExpress/