Opposition forms group to secure Assembly Speaker post (Koha)
The opposition bloc wishing to form a new government of Kosovo has decided to create a joint group in order to secure the post of Assembly Speaker, the paper reports on the front page. According to the agreement, the post is set to go to the leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Isa Mustafa, but an Assembly regulation stipulates that the position should go to a candidate proposed by the largest parliamentary group. However, neither officials from political parties nor from the Assembly of Kosovo were able to say with certainty whether parliamentary groups are created before or after the Speaker is elected. Arben Gashi from the LDK said all legal conditions will be applied in the Assembly to make sure the post is given to Isa Mustafa. “We will have a joint parliamentary group in order to have the sufficient numbers to propose the Assembly Speaker from our own group”, said Gashi. One of the contributors to the drafting of Kosovo Constitution and former head of the UNMIK Legal Office, Alexander Borg-Olivier, told the paper that it is the duty of the President of Kosovo to assess which party or coalition has sufficient numbers in the Assembly to form the government. If the President is not sure who to propose, she can then request an interpretation from the Constitutional Court. “If there is proof that a coalition has more support to create a government, the President should give it a chance”, concluded Borg-Olivier.
Prime Minister Thaci congratulates people of Kosovo (Lajm)
Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci congratulated the people of Kosovo on the occasion of Peace Day, 12 June. Thaci said, “On this important anniversary we are remembering with devotion and pride the sacrifice of all who died for freedom.”
Kuci: Let’s lower the tensions (Bota Sot)
The deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Hajredin Kuci, stated in an interview for Gazeta Blic that the agreement reached between the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), and the Initiative, is merely an example of post-election adrenaline. According to him, the Constitution of Kosovo clearly states that the mandate to create the new government belongs to the party which won the majority of votes. He added that the PDK is ready to respect any decision of the Constitutional Court. He stressed that Kosovo might hold extraordinary elections if the situation cannot be resolved. He called on all parties to lower tensions.
Haradinaj: Early elections, bad news for PDK (Koha Ditore)
The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the opposition’s candidate for Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, said that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK)’s warning, about heading into early elections if it is not given a mandate to form the new government, is ridiculous. “If the country heads into elections again, the opposition will have only one slogan: ‘Thieves to prison,’” said Haradinaj, adding that the opposition would run together if elections were repeated. “There will be a complete mobilization of the opposition against those who brought the country to this stage”, Haradinaj said in an interview for the Tirana-based television network, Top Channel.
Limaj: First agreement without international interference (Botapress)
The Head of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), Fatmir Limaj, who is already part of the agreement with the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) to create the government, said that this arrangement is democratic. He adds that it is the first agreement ever made by Albanian political parties without any international facilitation. “It has been the quickest agreement in the entire history of Albania, and that too without international facilitation,” said Limaj. During the KTV “Rubikon” television show, Limaj said also that NISMA will play a crucial role in political developments in Kosovo.
Pacolli: Isa Mustafa betrayed me (Tribuna)
The head of New Kosovo Alliance (AKR), Behgjet Pacolli, says that AKR was betrayed by Isa Mustafa and not the LDK. Pacolli says that Isa Mustafa did not call him at all, after he learned that AKR had not reached the electoral threshold. In addition, Mustafa had earlier told him not to form a coalition with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). “Now we have a dilemma. Maybe we will support Haradinaj, maybe Vetevendosje, maybe we will also support Thaci. But it is more important to pass the election threshold, and then all four options will be in play,” said Pacolli to Klan Kosova. Pacolli said the opposition bloc should have waited for the final elections results and then undertaken unity actions afterwards, because the way in which they had acted had endangered stability. He called the opposition agreement unconstitutional, and said Isa Mustafa’s actions go against the will of LDK voters.
Jahjaga in Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict (Lajm)
The President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, took part in the official opening in London of the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. The Global Summit was organized by the British Foreign Office Secretary, William Hague, and the Special Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Angelina Jolie. Participants at the Summit included high-level delegates from all over the world, UN representatives, and Foreign Ministers. The EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Catherine Ashton, also took part.
