Headlines - 18.07.2014

Isa Mustafa to face Constitutional Court (Tribuna)

The leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Isa Mustafa, who was elected yesterday as Assembly Speaker, may share the same fate as Behgjet Pacolli, who was elected as President of Kosovo in 2011, but only served a very short term. At the time, it was the LDK that had sent the matter of Pacolli’s election to the Constitutional Court, which then concluded that his election had indeed been unconstitutional. Three years on, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) is expected to request a similar ruling from the Constitutional Court regarding Mustafa’s election to the Speaker’s post. While the PDK recognizes the right of parties to cooperate, it considers it illegal for them to unite into a single parliamentary group prior to the constitutive session. The PDK deputy leader, Enver Hoxhaj, said after an emergency meeting of the party that Mustafa’s election violated Kosovo’s laws and Constitution, as well as the Assembly’s working rules. Hoxhaj said the PDK will not recognise Mustafa’s election and will seek the opinion of the Constitutional Court on the matter.

Krasniqi hands over duties to Mustafa (Epoka)

After the constitutive session of the Assembly, Jakup Krasniqi, the outgoing Assembly Speaker, handed over his duties to the elected Assembly Speaker, Isa Mustafa. Krasniqi congratulated Mustafa on his new post and wished him success. Mustafa praised Krasniqi for his work as Assembly Speaker during the last two mandates.

Government a hostage to another Constitutional Court decision (Koha)

The paper reports on the front page that Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga can expect another decision from the Constitutional Court, before proceeding with the process of forming the new government. “President Jahjaga will respect the decision of the Constitutional Court on the candidate for the post of Prime Minister. She will also respect the right of every political party to seek legal interpretation or explanation about the constitutive session of the Assembly,” Arber Vllahiu, spokesman for President Jahjaga, told the paper.

PDK’s three disputed points (Tribuna)

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) says that three matters were handled in an unconstitutional manner during yesterday’s session of the Kosovo Assembly. First, the parliamentary group formed by the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), was not certified as the largest grouping. Second, the decision of the outgoing Assembly Speaker and Presidency to authorize LDK-AAK-NISMA as a single parliamentary group before the constitutive session was problematic. Third, MPs from LDK, Vetevendosje, AAK, NISMA and minority communities, had no right to organise another session when the chairperson had already declared the Assembly session as closed. “In conclusion, Isa Mustafa is not the elected Speaker of the Republic of Kosovo Assembly”, the PDK said.

Bosch: Mustafa’s election as Assembly Speaker is controversial (Epoka)

Robert Bosch, the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Kosovo, commented on Thursday’s developments at the constitutive session of the Assembly of Kosovo. “Mustafa got elected as Assembly Speaker with 65 votes out of 120 deputies; it is a big controversy. By all accounts, this is not the end,” said Bosch. He also mentioned the presence of Albanian flags on the tables of Vetevendosje MPs.

Haradinaj: We have insurmountable differences with Vetevendosje (Epoka)

Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), said on Thursday that the opposition collation has insurmountable differences with the Vetevendosje Movement and that therefore it is difficult to reach an agreement on the formation of the new government. “My idea was to reach an agreement on general principles, and to give the Vetevendosje Movement the right to have a different opinion on some issues. If this does not happen, it will be impossible to find a mutual consensus,” he said.

Selimi: We won’t support the government without an agreement (Epoka)

Vetevendosje MP Rexhep Selimi said on Thursday that his party would not support the formation of the new government without a prior agreement. In light of the fact that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has sought the opinion of the Constitutional Court on which party has the right to occupy the Assembly Speaker post, Selimi said the Court should not be used to delay the formation of new institutions. “It is already obvious that the PDK lacks the numbers for the Assembly Speaker and Government. Addressing the Constitutional Court on such matters is an attempt to buy more time. Kosovo cannot and should not hold new elections,” Selimi added.

Williamson to visit Kosovo on Monday (Koha)

The paper reports on the front page that Kosovo’s outgoing Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci, will meet on Monday with a prosecutor who is investigating him for possible illegal activities as mentioned in Dick Marty’s report. John Clint Williamson, head of the task force investigating allegations made in the Council of Europe report, will visit Kosovo shortly before announcing the findings of his two-year investigation. Pristina confirmed Williamson’s visit. “Yes, Mr. Williamson will be coming to Kosovo on Monday. That is all I can say,” Kosovo’s outgoing Justice Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Hajredin Kuci, said. Williamson’s office in Brussels meanwhile denied that he would present his findings to Thaci. “I cannot confirm plans for Ambassador Williamson’s eventual travels, but without any doubt I can deny that the findings will be presented in the way you are suggesting,” Joao Sousa, spokesman for the special task force, told the paper when asked if Williamson will present his findings to Kosovo authorities.

Gashi to Rakic: Do not politicize the issue (Tribuna)

Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Dardan Gashi urged Mitrovica North Mayor Goran Rakic not to politicize the construction of a park on the River Iber/Ibar Bridge and instead leave it to experts to design the city’s development plan. “We also remind all people involved that they should abide by the laws of the Republic of Kosovo and that any illegal action will be considered as a serious criminal offence”, said Gashi.