Jakaj calls for deputies not to go on break until Kosovo’s new institutions are established

Naim Jakaj, a senior researcher at the Kosovo Law Institute (IKD), believes that deputies of the Assembly of Kosovo should not go on summer break while the country has still not established its new institutions and while the certification of the election results has not been completed.

In an interview with EO, he said that the current political developments require the Assembly’s uninterrupted engagement, as immediately after the certification of the results, the constitution of the Assembly, the formation of the new Government, and the election of the president are expected to begin.

“Given that we believe we are without institutions and the certification of the results has still not taken place by the Central Election Commission. What is also known from the statements of the members of the Central Election Commission, respectively also of the deputy of the CEC, is that on July 4-6 the election results are expected to be certified, and this then speeds up and starts the process of calling the constitutive session, then also the invitation for the candidate for prime minister and for the new Government. So, the deadlines begin to run to create these institutions. In the current case, we will also have on the way the issue of electing the President, for which we went to elections on June 7,” Jakaj said.

He stressed that, although the Assembly’s rules of procedure provide for deputies to go on break at the end of July, such a provision should not be applied in the current circumstances because of the necessity of creating functional institutions.

“According to the Assembly’s rules of procedure, at the end of July deputies go on break, so the spring session ends. So, the spring session begins, which may start on July 10 and may have around 20 working days. But in the current case, because of the political situation, because of the blockade, because of the consequences Kosovo has had, the Assembly of Kosovo should not go on break,” he said.

According to Jakaj, the new presidency of the Assembly, or even the current one if its mandate continues, should take concrete steps to avoid a parliamentary recess.

“The rules of procedure say that at the end of July the Assembly goes on break, but the new speaker or the new chairwoman of the Assembly of Kosovo, or even the current one if it is the same speaker of the Assembly, should propose that this be avoided from the implementation of this provision of the Assembly’s rules of procedure, so that the Assembly does not go on break. The deputies of the Assembly of Kosovo have rested in the sense of legislative work, and the Government has been in office, but the deputies should not rest in the sense of the classic break under the rules of procedure of the Assembly of Kosovo,” the IKD researcher told Ekonomia Online.

He underlined that even if deputies decide to go on break, the constitutional and legal deadlines continue to run and the possible consequences will be felt by citizens.

“Normally, deputies can go on certain weekends, but in this specific case a classic break, as belongs to the Assembly based on the daily work it does in the spring and autumn sessions, should not be taken. Regardless of why this thing is regulated and belongs to them under the new rules of procedure of the Assembly of Kosovo. Such a thing, even if the deputies go, the deadlines cannot stop, they are consumed,” Jakaj said.

Jakaj said deputies should demonstrate responsibility and prioritize the creation of the new institutions before thinking about holidays.

“These deputies, who have been full of words that Kosovo is losing and suffering serious consequences for the country because of consecutive elections, should have the conscience to decide not to go on break, but to complete the three-four main issues, the five-six main issues the country needs. So, first to form the Assembly, to constitute it, to form the Government, to vote for the President, some important issues that come from the Growth Plan and some international agreements which are vital for the Republic of Kosovo,” he said.

Speaking about the scenario in which the institutions are not formed before the summer break, he warned that such a situation would bring consequences for the country and could even lead to elections again.

“We believe the election result will be certified by July 4 or 6, within 30 days the constitutive session is called. If the constitutive session is called very quickly, where there are dates 10, 12, because the Assembly of Kosovo also needs preparations for the registration of the deputies of the Assembly of Kosovo, then the deadline runs from that day,” Jakaj said.

He added that the final decision belongs to the political parties, which must determine whether they will act in the interest of citizens or in the service of narrow political interests.

“If they want, let the deputies stay in the Assembly; if they want, let them go on holiday, but the consequences will be borne by the country’s citizens and then the consequences will be, if we go once again to elections, for those political parties that have not remained faithful to their own words that they would be constructive in resolving issues, especially in relation to the rapid formation of institutions,” Jakaj said.

According to him, the burden of resolving this situation falls on the deputies and political entities, which must decide whether they will serve citizens or limited political interests.

“The deputies themselves will decide whether they will represent the interests of citizens, or whether they will represent narrow personal interests, for which there is really no need. Kosovo needs an Assembly that carries out its duties with responsibility and full integrity,” Jakaj added.