Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani stated on Tuesday that the parliamentary vice president’s seat reserved for the Serb community under the Constitution cannot be replaced by anyone else, despite the recent boycott by Lista Serbe (Serb List).
Speaking at a press conference after submitting comments to the Constitutional Court, Osmani emphasized that the seat remains reserved for the Serb community and can be filled in a future session without preventing the constitution of the Assembly.
“In the past, there have been cases where some deputy speakers were not elected in the constitutive session, but the Assembly was still formed. That position belongs to the Serb community, as guaranteed by the Constitution, and will remain vacant until filled in a future session. No one else can occupy it,” Osmani said.
She stressed that minority rights can only be guaranteed in functional institutions and warned against political maneuvers that misuse constitutional guarantees.
Osmani also underlined that the Republic of Kosovo cannot be held hostage by political boycotts:
“No one should have the right of veto, as this would endanger the democratic foundations of the state. This is not the first time that Lista Serbe has boycotted or walked away from the Assembly or security institutions, but such actions have never blocked the functioning of institutions. The state must move forward.”
