There is no "white smoke" / The constitution of the Kosovo Assembly fails for the 27th time

For the 27th time in a row, the members of the Kosovo Assembly have failed to constitute the new parliamentary composition resulting from the February elections.

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the Serbian List again refused, in the continuation of the constitutive session on June 4, to propose a representative who would ensure the smooth conduct of the secret ballot.

The secret ballot was proposed in the continuation of the constitutive session on May 1 by the chair of the session, Avni Dehari, after the proposed speaker of parliament from the Vetëvendosje Movement, Albulena Haxhiu, failed to receive 61 votes to be elected to this position in several open votes.

The issue of secret balloting is being challenged by the parties that were in opposition last term and has been sent to the Constitutional Court for interpretation. They assess that the way in which the LVV is attempting to have the new Speaker of the Assembly elected through secret ballot is unconstitutional, requesting the Court to take “a temporary measure to prohibit the holding of sessions, until it addresses this matter as a priority and makes a decision.”

This was the nineteenth time that MPs rejected the secret ballot for the speaker. The constitutive session, which began on April 15, will continue on June 7.

Before the start of the session, lawyer Arianit Koci said that he would close the doors of the Assembly, in order for the deputies to remain inside the plenary hall until a political agreement is reached on the constitution of the Assembly.

After asking this of all the MPs entering the Assembly, he symbolically closed the doors of the legislative body by placing a ribbon,

The PDK and AAK consider Haxhiu a divisive figure, demanding that the LVV – the winner of the elections that has the exclusive right to propose a candidate for parliamentary speaker – change its name.

The LVV insists that Haxhiu deserves to be elected speaker of parliament, while recently, this party has said that it is awaiting the Constitutional Court's decision on this issue.

LDK, meanwhile, has said that it will not vote for anyone proposed by LVV for the position of Speaker of Parliament.

To constitute the Assembly, MPs must elect the new Speaker and five Vice Speakers, for which 61 votes are needed.

Only after their election is the legislative body considered constituted, and after that the way is opened for the formation of the new Government of Kosovo.

Civil society in Kosovo and the international community have called for Kosovo to form new institutions as soon as possible./ REL