Kosovo’s parliamentary parties have yet to put forward a candidate for president, with only eight days remaining before the October 6 deadline set by the Constitutional Court for the election of a new head of state.
The Constitutional Court ruled on September 23 that the 60-day constitutional period for electing a president began on August 8 and expires on October 6. If the Assembly fails to complete the process within the deadline, the country could face another parliamentary election.
The issue remains unresolved as Acting President Albulena Haxhiu, who also serves as Assembly Speaker, continues to perform the duties of head of state. Her six-month period as acting president is due to expire on October 4, adding another constitutional question to the ongoing political impasse.
The Assembly convened on September 28, but the election of a president was not included on the agenda. Representatives of the parliamentary parties did not announce an agreement on a candidate following the session.
The ruling Vetëvendosje Movement (LVV), the largest parliamentary party, has not publicly announced a presidential candidate.
On September 27, Prime Minister Albin Kurti held separate meetings with PDK leader Bedri Hamza and LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku. The meetings focused on a joint declaration concerning the judgment of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, while it has not been publicly confirmed whether the presidential issue was also discussed.
Kurti said on September 25 that failure to elect a president would lead to another parliamentary election, although he described new elections as unnecessary and costly.
“If we fail to elect a new president, we will go to elections again. These would be the fourth elections within two years. New elections are unnecessary and costly,” Kurti said.
No New Candidate After Sejdiu Withdrawal
One of the names previously proposed for the presidency was Bekim Sejdiu. He withdrew his candidacy on September 14 after being proposed by LVV and LDK.
Sejdiu’s candidacy did not reach the voting stage after several LDK lawmakers opposed it. No other presidential candidate has been publicly announced since his withdrawal.
LDK parliamentary group leader Jehona Lushaku said her party was prepared to contribute to finding a solution and avoiding another election.
“We have said as a party that it is important to avoid elections, since we have already had elections, but this requires the will of all parliamentary groups or all political parties,” Lushaku said.
She added that LDK could not elect a president on its own but was ready to contribute to the establishment of the institutions.
“We are not in a situation where we can say that we are ‘for’ or ‘against’ a candidate, because we have a new situation,” she said.
Parties Discuss Institutional Deadlock
PDK parliamentary group leader Arian Tahiri denied that a bill proposed by his party to amend the Law on the Specialist Chambers could be linked to the presidential vote.
“These are issues that should not be linked. The law is a separate matter, while the presidency is a matter of political parties’ willingness, which must involve a proactive approach and consensus,” Tahiri said.
AAK parliamentary group leader Besnik Tahiri criticized what he described as the lack of a political process aimed at resolving the presidential issue.
“On October 6, either we go to elections or we continue the state-building process,” he said, arguing that political parties should be addressing what he called Kosovo’s real problems rather than focusing on political divisions.
Meanwhile, the Assembly completed its leadership structure on September 28 by electing PDK’s Vlora Çitaku as deputy speaker with 95 votes in favor, none against and no abstentions.
The Assembly is now headed by Speaker Albulena Haxhiu of LVV, with Ardian Gola of LVV, Kujtim Shala of LDK, Tanja Vujović of the Serb List and Emilija Rexhepi representing non-Serb communities serving as deputy speakers.
Despite the completion of the Assembly’s leadership, the presidential election remains unresolved.
Parliamentary parties now have eight days to reach an agreement on a candidate before the October 6 constitutional deadline.
