If candidate for PM can’t secure majority, then danger for President (Koha)
On the front page, the paper quotes legal experts as saying that the President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, could violate the Constitution if she fails for the second time to propose a candidate for Prime Minister who could secure the support of the majority of MPs to form the new government. The Constitutional Court left it to Jahjaga’s discretion to decide who to appoint the second time if the first candidate fails to secure the majority. Experts consider that Jahjaga is obliged to undertake all necessary measures to avoid another election process. She has to make sure, therefore, that the second candidate has the necessary votes before she makes the proposal.
PDK seeking MPs (Tribuna)
The paper reports on the front page that, now that the Constitutional Court has paved the way for the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) to try and form the new government, the party is looking into several scenarios on how to make this happen. One of the options the party is pursuing is talking to disgruntled officials of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and trying to convince them to join the PDK. As it stands, PDK together with community parties has 57 MPs and it needs only four more to be able to form the new government.
PDK convinced it will establish government (Lajm)
The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) said it will manage to establish the new government, despite the insistence of the opposition that it will block such an attempt, reported Jeta ne Kosove. Basri Musmurati, General Secretary of the PDK, stated that his party would not have any problems at all in forming the government. The newspaper “Jeta ne Kosove” writes that the PDK is expected to have difficulties in convincing other parties to join its coalition, and therefore secure the 61 necessary votes in the Assembly. After all, the other Albanian parties who won seats in the Assembly, namely the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Vetevendosje, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), have joined together to block PDK’s attempts.
Haziri: Either us or PDK, no extraordinary elections (Botapress)
Lutfi Haziri from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) says that his political party is not in favor of a comprehensive government or extraordinary elections. “There is either going to be a government from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) or a government from the opposition coalition. Elections are not an option for Kosovo,” said Haziri for Klan Kosova.
Ambassadors criticize government for investing in non-priority sectors (Koha)
In a front page story, the paper reports that foreign ambassadors in Pristina have criticized the government of Kosovo for making investments in non-priority sectors and for ignoring the energy sector. The remarks were made during a meeting organized in the World Bank’s premises in Pristina on Wednesday, during which the government and the Kosovo Power Corporation (KEK) asked for assistance from foreign embassies and other international institutions to overcome the energy crisis. Foreign ambassadors criticized the government for signing the contract with Bechtel-Enka for the construction of the Pristina-Hani i Elezit highway at a time when the country is faced with an energy crisis. The government was also criticized for increasing salaries in the public sector. Sources, who attended the meeting, told the paper that ambassadors also criticized the Minister for Economic Development, Fadil Ismaili, and the Minister for Finance, Besim Beqaj, who was late to the meeting. “In addition to criticism, there was also readiness to help Kosovo overcome the crisis. But that support will be discussed at the next meeting where KEK and Kosovo Electricity Distribution and Supply (KEDS) will present data requested by the embassies. Until the next meeting, embassies will contact their governments to see if they are willing to assist KEK,” the source said.
Bahtiri and Rakic call on citizens to demonstrate maturity (Lajm)
The paper reports that Mitrovica Mayor Agim Bahtiri and Mitrovica North Mayor Goran Rakic had a telephone conversation in order to avoid inter-ethnic conflict and reduce tensions after Serbs had blocked the construction of Albanian houses and then Albanians prevented the construction of Serb apartments in Kroi i Vitakut, in northern Mitrovica. Bahtiri and Rakic said they support the agreement according to which construction would be suspended until problems are reviewed and an acceptable solution is found for both sides. Both mayors called on the residents of Kroi i Vitakut, and people from both sides of the city, to be patient and mature to try and find solutions through talks, and to have faith in their institutional representatives.
Tahiri in Brussels to discuss barricade (Kosova Sot)
Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri traveled yesterday to Brussels, where she is going to meet EU officials and discuss the implementation of agreements and the barricade in Mitrovica. A statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister said Tahiri will call for increased engagement by the EU in accelerating the implementation of agreements.
Talks immediately after establishment of new government (Zeri)
Unnamed international diplomats told the paper that the European Union is waiting for the formation of the new government in Pristina in order to resume dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade and find solutions on several issues that were left undefined by the outgoing government. Diplomats also said new elections in Kosovo would not be convenient for Brussels. “The 19 April agreement must be implemented and the main issue is the establishment of the association of Serb majority municipalities,” a foreign diplomat was quoted as saying. Maja Kocijancic, spokeswoman for EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, told the paper: “We expect that immediately after the creation of the new government of Kosovo, we will resume dialogue and proceed with the implementation of the 19 April agreement”.
Togo recognizes independence of Kosovo (Botapress)
The paper reports that Togo has recognized the independence of Kosovo. This follolws Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj’s meetings with Togolese officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Togo is among 107 countries that have so far recognized the independence of Kosovo.
