Kosovo Court Sets October 6 Deadline for Parliament to Choose New President

On Wednesday the Constitutional Court of Kosovo mandated that parliament elect a new president by October 6, citing a constitutional 60-day deadline that started on August 8. The ruling came after the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) challenged the legality of the parliament’s inauguration and the re-election of Albin Kurti as prime minister. The court rejected the PDK’s plea to halt parliamentary activity and confirmed that the assembly is duly inaugurated, also ordering the immediate election of the PDK’s deputy-speaker nominee.

Kurti’s government was approved by a narrow majority of 62 MPs, while eight members of the Belgrade-backed Srpska Lista voted against it. The presidency has been vacant since Vjosa Osmani’s term ended on April 4, with speaker Albulena Haxhiu serving as acting president. A previous presidential candidate, former judge Bekim Sejdiu, withdrew on September 14 after internal disputes within the Democratic League of Kosovo. Should parliament miss the October 6 deadline, snap elections must be held within 45 days, averting a fourth parliamentary poll in two years.