Kosovo’s Assembly has approved a request by the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) to include the Law on the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office in The Hague on the agenda of Thursday’s parliamentary session.
A total of 79 MPs voted in favour of the motion, with no votes against and no abstentions.
“Seventy-nine MPs voted in favour, none against and none abstained. The motion passes and becomes the 11th item on the agenda,” Assembly Speaker Albulena Haxhiu announced.
The PDK proposed a procedural motion to amend the agenda, requesting that parliament reconsider the legislation governing the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office.
PDK acting leader Vlora Çitaku said the party had requested the law’s return to parliament because several recommendations and legal suggestions had been made that could strengthen the legislation and make it more legally sustainable.
She insisted that the law should be approved on Thursday, with the amendment process beginning immediately afterwards.
“We should begin the amendment procedure on Monday,” Çitaku said.
The PDK is seeking to overturn President Justina Shiroka Pula’s veto so that the law can be approved in its current form before amendments are considered.
Political parties divided over the next steps
The ruling Vetëvendosje Movement supported placing the legislation on the parliamentary agenda. Earlier, its representatives had also indicated support for overturning the President’s decision in the parliamentary Committee on Legislation.
The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), meanwhile, said it would maintain its existing position on the legislation.
The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) also backed the PDK’s proposal.
President Justina Shiroka Pula had returned the legislation to the Assembly following a request from the PDK, creating uncertainty over the appropriate parliamentary procedure.
Legal experts have been divided over how parliament should proceed, particularly whether amendments could first be introduced through the Committee on Legislation before another vote, or whether MPs should initially overturn the President’s decision to return the law.
What does the Constitution say?
Under Article 80, paragraph 4, of Kosovo’s Constitution, the Assembly can approve legislation returned by the President through a majority vote of all MPs. Once approved again, the law is considered promulgated.
This means the President cannot return the same legislation for a second time if parliament reapproves it with the required majority.
The Assembly can therefore bring the law into force in its existing form before initiating a separate amendment process.
Under the general rule, legislation enters into force 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Kosovo, unless the law itself establishes a different timeframe.
