Presidential election: "Worst crisis in Kosovo since the war"

Presidential Election: "Worst Crisis in Kosovo Since the War"

Kosovo is experiencing an unprecedented constitutional crisis. Even after three elections in quick succession, parliament has been unable to agree on a new president. No way out is in sight.

Tumultuous scenes played out in the Kosovar parliament in early August. Member of parliament Time Kadriaj threw an egg at Albin Kurti, the party leader of Vetevendosje. MPs from Kurti's party rushed to shield him.

Vetevendosje won the election in Kosovo in June. With the help of a few minority representatives, the party could also constitute parliament and elect a government. But party leader Kurti, who has already been governing Kosovo, does not want this — he demands that MPs first agree on a new president for Kosovo.

That has not been achieved so far. He is therefore asking for "additional time" so that snap elections can be avoided, Kurti said.

The moment when the dispute in parliament escalated: MP Kadriaj threw an egg at Prime Minister Kurti.

No Agreement: Parliamentary Dissolution

The head of state in Kosovo is elected by parliament. In theory, this can happen with a simple majority, but only in the third round of voting — and only if two-thirds of all MPs were present in the first two rounds.

The opposition can therefore block the presidential election simply by not showing up. And after 60 days without agreement, parliament must be dissolved and a new election held. That is exactly what happened in June.

To avoid a repeat of this scenario, Kurti wants to find a new president before parliament is constituted — thereby circumventing the 60-day deadline.

Deadlines Pass

Vlora Citaku of the largest opposition party PDK is outraged and accuses Kurti of violating the constitution: "Political agreements between parties and various political actors do not supersede the constitution. The constitution stands above every party, above every meeting, and above every individual."

Citaku is demanding the immediate constitution of parliament. Some constitutional experts in Kosovo share this view. There is a deadline for constituting parliament — and that deadline has now passed by nearly two weeks.

Kurti is receiving backing from within his own ranks, however. Vetevendosje politician Albulena Haxhiu is Kosovo's acting president and is calling on the opposition to enter negotiations. The citizens of the Republic of Kosovo have waited long enough. They expect political parties not to refuse talks, but to sit down together and discuss the question of the presidency.

New elections would also be no guarantee that the parties would reach agreement on the presidential question, Haxhiu argues.

An Unprecedented Crisis

The two sides thus appear to be irreconcilably opposed. Sociology professor Artan Muhaxhiri sees this as the worst crisis in Kosovo since the 1999 war.

We are in a political vacuum, and no one has any idea how to escape this deadlock. There is no plan B, and this blockade is expected to continue without any realistic or normal solution in sight.

Kosovo must help itself.

The international community is failing as a mediator, according to Muhaxhiri; due to numerous conflicts around the world, Kosovo is not a priority. And so the country must find a solution itself.

Currently, Vetevendosje is negotiating with the LDK, the second leading opposition party in Kosovo, about a solution. After an initial meeting this week, Kurti expressed cautious optimism.

But even if the party leaders reach an agreement, individual MPs could break ranks. It is also possible that the proceedings will end up before the Constitutional Court.