Hamza Warns of Constitutional Court Review, Does Not Rule Out Protests

The leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Bedri Hamza, has described as unconstitutional and unlawful the manner in which, according to him, Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti is taking control of the institutions.

Emphasizing that the Republic of Kosovo does not belong to any political party, Hamza said Kurti was showing no seriousness about forming the country’s institutions.

He made these statements after midnight at the Kosovo Assembly. PDK representatives found the institution’s doors locked and, as a result, were unable to enter for the constitutive session.

Hamza said their presence outside the Assembly building until that hour demonstrated their readiness to participate in the constitutive session, while calling it unacceptable that the administration had kept the doors locked.

According to him, the Constitutional Court’s ruling, which clearly stipulates that the Assembly must be constituted within 30 days of the certification of the election results, is being disregarded. Hamza said this constituted a violation of the Constitution, a failure to respect the country’s highest legal act, and an infringement of democracy.

He accused the party with the largest number of seats of taking control of the institutions in an unconstitutional and unlawful manner. Hamza stressed that Kosovo is not the property of VV, PDK, LDK, or the Alliance, adding that the state is governed on the basis of rules, laws, and respect for the Constitution.

The PDK leader warned that all necessary legal steps would be taken to defend the Constitution. He reiterated that PDK had defined its role as an opposition party and said Kurti was showing no seriousness whatsoever about forming the country’s institutions.

According to Hamza, invitations are issued only to create a situation in which responsibility can be assigned if the country goes to elections. He said that if elections are held, responsibility will lie with Kurti and the Vetëvendosje Movement.

Hamza said PDK would consider referring the matter to the Constitutional Court because, according to him, it involved a serious violation of the country’s highest legal act. He also said his party would not take part in Kurti’s games, accusing him of making a mockery of the country.

Referring to the past, Hamza said the establishment of Kosovo’s institutions had been obstructed through violence, while the country was now entering uncharted territory. He announced that the matter would be addressed the following day, before the session was convened, and insisted that PDK was not obstructing the institutions.

He said PDK’s demand was for the country’s highest legal act and its laws to be respected in order to avoid anarchy. Hamza warned that all democratic means would be used and stressed that every option remained open, including referring the case to the Constitutional Court, although the existing ruling was very clear.

According to him, both the Vetëvendosje Movement and Avni Dehari, in his capacity as chair of the session, had committed a blatant abuse. Hamza said Dehari was not acting seriously and was making a mockery of the country, adding that PDK, which had run on its programs and priorities, would not become part of these games.

The PDK leader said the violation had been committed by the person who convened the session, noting that the Assembly has its own legal office. He called on those responsible to think carefully about the reasons for this action and described the situation as an attempt by Kurti to delay the constitution of the Assembly.

Hamza said the case would be analyzed, while recalling that PDK had won a large number of cases before the Constitutional Court. He clarified that he was not speaking on behalf of any opposition bloc, but solely on behalf of PDK as a party.

At the same time, he expressed readiness to cooperate with other political parties, including LDK and the Alliance, on important issues. Hamza concluded that all permitted democratic means would be used and that organizing protests was not ruled out.