Civil society calls on parties in Kosovo to agree on election of president

Forty-five civil society organizations in Kosovo have called on parliamentary parties to reach an agreement on the election of the president by October 6, in compliance with the deadline set by the Constitutional Court.

Through a joint statement, the organizations appealed for political engagement to make institutions functional and to avoid the dissolution of the Assembly and another electoral cycle.

“We, the undersigned civil society organizations, believe that Kosovo must have functional institutions, with full mandates, that fulfil their responsibilities toward citizens. The mandate given by citizens is a responsibility to respect constitutional order and the democratic functioning of institutions. Therefore, we call on parliamentary parties to engage immediately in reaching an agreement that enables the election of the president by October 6, within the deadline set by the Constitutional Court.

“A repeated failure to elect the president would lead to the dissolution of the Assembly and new elections. After repeated institutional crises and successive electoral cycles, this would put the country in front of another institutional deadlock, with no guarantee that elections would resolve the disagreements that have kept this issue open,” the statement says.

According to the organizations, delays in the functioning of institutions and possible elections are not related only to the process of electing the president.

“For two years, Kosovo’s institutions have operated under limited or caretaker mandates. Another institutional blockade would deepen this crisis and prolong political uncertainty, further weakening democracy and democratic oversight, opportunities for economic development, international relations and citizens’ trust in state institutions.

“Reaching an agreement on the president requires mutual compromise. From the parliamentary majority we ask that it be open to candidacies that can secure broader cross-party support. On the other side, from opposition parties we expect concrete proposals and engagement for a feasible solution. From all parties we ask for readiness to review initial positions and to agree on candidacies, parliamentary support and the participation needed to complete the process within the deadline.

“Electing the president through an agreement reached in accordance with the Constitution would allow the country to emerge from the current blockade and enable institutions to continue their work. Such an agreement does not require overcoming political differences between the majority and the opposition, but only the institutional cooperation needed to complete the process and allow the state to function. The president represents the unity of the people and is the guarantor of the democratic functioning of institutions, and therefore the agreement should be guided by this constitutional role.

“As civil society organizations, we are ready to contribute to this effort by facilitating possible discussions. In the remaining days, we expect readiness for dialogue to be accompanied by clear and concrete steps to reach an agreement and complete the presidential election process within the deadline set by the Constitutional Court,” says the joint statement of the 45 civil society organizations.

The signatory organizations are listed in alphabetical order:

Advocacy Center for Democratic Culture (ACDC)

Advocacy Training and Resource Center (ATRC)

CEL Kosova – Qendra për Barazi dhe Liri

Civil Rights Program Kosovo – CRP/K

Community Building Mitrovica (CBM)

Democracy Plus (D+)

Demokraci për Zhvillim (D4D)

Dylberizm

Fondacioni Kosovar për Shoqëri Civile

Fondi për Zhvillim Komunitar (CDF)

Forumi Kosovar i Aftësisë së Kufizuar

Forumi për Iniciativa Qytetare

Fourth Wave

Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS)

Handikos Istog

Iniciativa për Progres (INPO)

Iniciativa Qytetare Skenderaj

Instituti Demokratik i Kosovës (KDI)

Instituti GAP

Instituti i Kosovës për Drejtësi (IKD)

Instituti KLGI

Instituti Riinvest

INTEGRA NGO

Këshilli për Mbrojtjen e të Drejtave dhe Lirive të Njeriut (KMDLNj)

Kosova – Women 4 Women

Kosovo Advocacy and Development Centre (KADC)

Lëvizja FOL

NGO “Syri i Vizionit”

NGO ROMTEGRA

OMM Gjethi

Organizata e Personave me Aftësi të kufizuara-Handikos Kaçanik

Organizata Germin

Organizata për Demokraci, Anti-korrupsion dhe Dinjitet – “ÇOHU!”

Prishtina Institute for Political Studies (PIPS)

Qendra Kosovare për Studime Gjinore (QKSGj)

Qendra Kosovare për Studime të Sigurisë (QKSS)

Qendra për Politika dhe Avokim

Qendra për Zhvillimin e Grupeve Shoqërore (CSGD)

Rrjeti i Grave të Kosovës

Rrjeti i OJQ-ve AVONET

Rrjeti i OJQve të Grave Qeliza

SEKHMET Institute

ShL- Kosova

The Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRTC)