Clash in parliament between Haxhiu and Simiq over the statement “in the name of the Serbian people

A debate took place in the Kosovo Assembly between Speaker Albulena Haxhiu and Serb List MP Igor Simiq during the continuation of the constitutive session on Wednesday.

The clash began after Simiq, while proposing Slavko Simiq for the post of deputy speaker from the Serb community, stated that the candidacy was being presented “in the name of the Serbian people.”

Haxhiu objected to the wording, describing it as unacceptable and contrary to the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. After the break ended, she requested that the proposal be reformulated in accordance with the Constitution and the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure.

Haxhiu calls for the statement to be withdrawn

“I want to address the statement made by MP Igor Simiq after he was given the floor to present the proposals for deputy speaker from the non-majority Serb community. MP Simiq made an unacceptable statement. Allow me to read it: ‘In the name of the Serbian people, with the signatures of the majority of MPs occupying the reserved seats for the Serb community, nine of the ten MPs, we propose Slavko Simiq as a candidate for deputy speaker,’” Haxhiu said.

She added that the wording was contrary to the Constitution, stressing: “There is a Serbian people in Serbia, whereas the Republic of Kosovo has the people of Kosovo, of whom 92 percent are Albanians, 4 percent are Serbs and 4 percent belong to other non-majority communities.”

Haxhiu asked Simiq to withdraw the statement and present the proposal in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo and the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure.

Simiq: The proposal was made according to the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure

The Serb List MP did not accept the speaker’s request. He argued that the candidacy for deputy speaker from the Serb community had been submitted in the manner prescribed by the Assembly’s rules.

“I understand the game you are playing. In accordance with Article 67 of the Constitution and Article 12, paragraph 6 of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure, proposals for the deputy speaker concerning the Serb community, as you call it, are made in writing, and you accepted this on the 6th of the 8th month. So the proposal we submitted…” Simiq said.

His speech was interrupted by Haxhiu, who once again asked him to withdraw the statement and continue with a proposal based on the Constitution and the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure.

Haxhiu: Submit the request based on the Constitution

“Honourable MP, please, control room, cut off his microphone. Withdraw your statement first. I ask you to withdraw your statement first and continue with the proposal in accordance with the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure and the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. Not the other words; do it according to the request that is based on the Constitution,” Haxhiu said.

Simiq refused to withdraw the statement and continued to insist on his position.

Simiq: I am a representative of the Serbian people

“I am a representative of the Serbian people, and you will not take this right away from me. So, the proposal in writing that we made on…” he declared.

This intervention was also interrupted by Haxhiu. A few moments later, the speaker suspended the session entirely, saying there was no agreement on the election of the Assembly’s deputy speakers.

The session will continue on Friday, 11 September.