Coalition to gather at Assembly on Thursday (Koha Ditore)

On the front page, the paper reports that the coalition bloc between the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) and Vetevendosje, is determined to debate with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) only in the Assembly. The bloc announced that it will gather on 9 October to resume the constitutive session but will refrain from electing a speaker if PDK chooses to forego the session. “The decision of the Constitutional Court requires a debate on this issue. It requires agreement and that can only be reached in the Assembly, not in cafes or secret environments”, said AAK’s Avni Arifi. At the same time, PDK officials said the only person who can call an Assembly session is its chair, Flora Brovina.

The bloc’s arguments (Lajm)

The bloc involving the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), and Vetevendosje, does not intend to back down from its position about the post of Assembly speaker, which according to the coalition agreement, is reserved for Isa Mustafa. In the bloc’s meetings with President Atifete Jahjaga, the leaders have stressed the idea that the Constitutional Court gave them the possibility of proposing and electing the speaker through article 127 of the Court’s verdict. This article calls on all MPs to come to an agreement in accordance with the rules of the Assembly and Constitution. 

Krasniqi: No need for elections (Zeri)

The deputy leader of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), Jakup Krasniqi, said there is no need for fresh elections to resolve the current political stalemate. He said there is already a parliamentary majority consisting of four political parties, which will be fully capable of forming new institutions. 

Kosovo at a standstill (Tribuna)

The upcoming European Commission progress report on Kosovo, which, according to the paper, will be released in mid-October, is expected to highlight positive developments in Kosovo such as the recent elections but also the significant stalemate in other areas. Most of the criticism in the report will relate to insufficient efforts by all Balkan countries to fight organised crime and corruption, address politically influenced judiciaries and reform public administrations. 

Kurti: Kosovo is not the heart of Serbia (Lajm)

Kosovo is not the heart of Serbia, the head of Vetevendosje, Albin Kurti, told the weekly Serbian magazine NIN. “The coalition between the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), with whom we have achieved an agreement, has the will and solution to overcome the present institutional crisis. All we need to do in the next session of the Kosovo Assembly is to discuss and vote. Previously, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) said that we don’t have the numbers and that democracy is about numbers. Even though I don’t agree with this understanding of democracy, we do have the numbers. However, it is clear that PDK does not like this and is trying with all of its tools to block the election of the assembly speaker”, said Kurti. 

Kosovo to push for return of pension fund from Serbia (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo pensioners are continuing to appeal to local and international institutions to help secure the return of their pension contributions from Serbia. The Head of the Kosovo Pensioners’ Association, Shaban Kajtazi, told Radio Free Europe that they broached the subject with Kosovo chief negotiator Edita Tahiri, who gave assurances that that the issue would be discussed in the course of dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. “Ms. Tahiri at the time promised us that, as soon as the issue of the association of northern municipalities was settled, pensions would be the next topic to be addressed”, said Kajtazi.