Kryeziu calls for session on changes to Specialist Chambers law to be held tonight or by tomorrow

The government last night approved the draft law amending and supplementing the Law on the Specialist Chambers, proposed by the Democratic Party of Kosovo. The decision was welcomed today by former Constitutional Court judge Kadri Kryeziu.

Following its approval by the executive, the draft law must be considered and voted on in the Assembly of Kosovo. Kryeziu told kp that the process should move urgently because of the limited time available under the Constitution to elect a president, a deadline that expires on October 6.

According to Kryeziu, the Assembly should convene a session tonight or, at the latest, tomorrow to meet the legal deadlines and comply with parliamentary rules.

Kryeziu said the draft law could be passed in both readings if the session is held in time. He explained that if the first-reading vote takes place tomorrow, the second reading could be held two days later, making it possible to elect the president afterward.

Kryeziu: Draft law on Specialist Chambers must proceed without delay

“The law proposed to the government, which must go to the Assembly, is a very good step taken by the government. And this must be done quickly, given that we have a short deadline, until October 6. So they can hold the session tonight or, at the latest, tomorrow, and it can be read twice in Parliament,” Kryeziu said.

The former judge stressed that laws in Kosovo enter into force after they are approved in two readings. He added that there must be at least 72 hours between the two votes.

Kryeziu also addressed the possible consequences if a president is not elected within the constitutional deadline. He said the offices of the Presidency cannot be left without someone acting in the role and that, based on legal and political reasoning, the speaker of the Assembly should continue to perform the duties of president.

Kryeziu: The Presidency must not be left without leadership

“Here we have a constitutional vacuum, but based on legal and political reasoning, the speaker of Parliament, who has been re-elected, should continue, and continue for another six months, meaning from square one. So the offices of the Presidency must not be left empty, given that it is a very important authority for Kosovo. And this is connected to Chapter 11 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, which provides, in certain circumstances, for a state of emergency and other situations that are not normal in the Republic of Kosovo,” he said.

He added that the issue is linked to Chapter 11 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, which sets out special circumstances, including a state of emergency.

According to Kryeziu, if a president is not elected by October 6, Kosovo could face extraordinary elections.

Kryeziu: If the president is not elected by October 6, elections will follow

“The critical deadline is based on the Constitutional Court’s judgment, which says the president must be elected by October 6. After October 6, under the Constitutional Court’s judgment, we must go to extraordinary elections,” Kryeziu said.

The PDK and the Alliance today called for an Assembly session to be held on October 3 to consider and vote on amendments to the Law on the Specialist Chambers. The parties called for parliamentary procedures to be expedited and for the draft law to be approved in both readings by October 6.