02 Oct 14
Kosovo' political stalemate looks set to continue after the constituent session of the new parliament was postponed.

Nektar Zogjani
BIRN
Pristina

Flora Brovina, from the ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, who chaired the constitutent session, said the session had been postponed to create “enough room to overcome the political crisis,” referring to ongoing discussions between the parties to end  the dispute over the election of a speaker.

During the past few days, leaders of the two major camps - one led by the PDK and the other by a coalition uniting the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, the Initiative for Kosovo, and the Self-Determination movement - have met President Atifete Jahjaga to discuss the crisis.

However, the parties have failed to reach agreement, as each camp claims the right to nominate the speaker.

The PDK bases its right on the fact that it came first in the June general elections and the other camp on the fact that it has the majority of votes in parliament.

A recent Constitutional Court ruling confirmed the PDK's right to nominate the speaker - but did not explain what should happen if the PDK candidate was not elected.

Two weeks ago, the PDK candidate, Arsim Bajrami, did not get enough votes to be elected, and Brovina adjourned the session immediately after the vote, without allowing the coalition to propose a candidate.

The coalition bloc said the endless delays were damaging the country.

“The parties with a majority should have the right to establish institutions,” Isa Mustafa, from the LDK, said.

The election of a speaker is a matter of urgency if a new government is to be formed in Kosovo, almost four months on from the general election.

However, the impasse looks hard to break as the PDK, with only 37 seats, has not ben able to lure any other parties into a coalition.

On the other hand, the opposing bloc has 63 seats - in theory easily enough to elect a speaker.