PRISTINA, Sept 13 /ATA/ Acting President Albulena Haxhiu has mandated Albin Kurti to form a new government after Vetëvendosje (Self-Determination) formally nominated its leader and incumbent prime minister for the post. The next step is for Kurti to present the cabinet line‑up and programme to Kosovo’s Assembly, where he will seek approval for the new government.
Vetëvendosje has previously said it commands 62 votes, one more than needed to form a new government — 53 from its own deputies and nine from non‑majority communities. Earlier in the day, despite the Democratic Party of Kosovo’s absence from the session and Vlora Çitaku’s withdrawal as candidate for deputy speaker, the process of constituting the Assembly was completed with the election of all remaining deputy speakers.
Presiding over the session, Albulena Haxhiu said the Assembly “cannot remain hostage to anyone, to any political entity”, and the process continued with the Democratic League of Kosovo’s proposal. LDK candidate Kujtim Shala was elected deputy speaker with 75 votes in favour.
After eight failed nominations from the Serb List, the Assembly elected Serb deputy Tanja Vujović, who also received votes from Vetëvendosje and some LDK members. From the non‑Serb minorities, Bosniak deputy Emilija Rexhepi was chosen.
“I consider the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo constituted,” Albulena Haxhiu said before closing the session. In an earlier ruling, the Constitutional Court had left open the possibility that the Assembly could function without one member of the Presidency if their election proved impossible, provided the Presidency still had a quorum for decision‑making.
Such a circumstance was cited when a deputy or parliamentary group entitled to nominate a member of the Presidency fails to exercise that right or obstructs the process. However, PDK deputy Përparim Gruda insisted the Assembly cannot currently be declared constituted, arguing that the Constitutional Court’s ruling does not apply in this case since the PDK has not renounced its right to nominate, and that Vetëvendosje cannot exploit a breach of constitutional deadlines.
Caretaker Prime Minister and Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti said that whenever the PDK is ready to nominate its candidate for deputy speaker, LVV deputies will support the choice. Meanwhile, the PDK had already announced it would walk out of Assembly sessions until the Constitutional Court rules on the dispute over the legislature’s constitution, with party experts preparing a case to submit to the court.
Vetëvendosje changed its stance and agreed to support PDK and LDK candidates for deputy speaker. LDK deputies were the only opposition members present, as the Alliance stayed away. After the session, LDK’s Jehona Lushaku‑Sadriu said the party would back any legal initiative to clarify constitutional deadlines for constituting the Assembly and contribute to PDK’s case before the Constitutional Court.
Ahead of Sunday’s session, Vetëvendosje deputies insisted their stance was changed solely to unblock the process of constituting the Assembly and avoid a fourth parliamentary election in two years. But Alliance leader Ardian Gjini and LDK deputy Ermal Sadiku interpreted the move as part of a scenario that, in their view, leads to fresh elections on 27 December.
With the Assembly now constituted, the 60‑day deadline for electing a president has begun. If deputies fail to choose a new head of state within that period, fresh elections must be called within 45 days.
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