Kurti 4 government approved with 62 votes as political battle shifts to the president and Constitutional Court

Albin Kurti was re-elected as Kosovo’s prime minister with 62 votes, but the vote on the new government did not bring the country’s political crisis to an end. Following the formation of the executive, the main challenges concern the election of the president and the opposition’s warning that it will take the procedure for constituting the Assembly to the Constitutional Court.

The Kurti 4 government received the support of the Kosovo Assembly on Sunday during an extraordinary session. Of the 120 deputies, 62 voted in favor of the new cabinet, while the eight deputies from the Serb List voted against it.

Deputies from the Democratic Party of Kosovo, the Democratic League of Kosovo and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo were not present at the session. The cabinet was approved by representatives of the Vetëvendosje Movement and deputies from non-majority communities.

After the vote, Kurti and the ministers in his cabinet took their oaths before the Assembly deputies.

Presenting the government program, before asking the deputies for their vote, Kurti said that the next four-year term would focus on the security and well-being of citizens. According to him, repeated elections have hindered the regular functioning of institutions.

The measures he presented include raising wages, doubling child allowances and creating a digital currency. Kurti also mentioned strengthening security, economic development and continuing state reforms.

The formation of the executive was accompanied by objections concerning the procedure for constituting the Assembly.

The PDK and AAK boycotted the session, arguing that the Assembly could not be considered constituted without all deputy speakers being elected. Opposition representatives have announced that they will refer the issue to the Constitutional Court.

Assembly Speaker Albulena Haxhiu considered the institution constituted after Kujtim Shala, Emilia Rexhepi and Tanja Vujoviq were elected as deputy speakers. However, the seat reserved for the PDK remained unfilled.

Following this decision, the Vetëvendosje Movement nominated Kurti as the candidate to form the government. Haxhiu, who is serving as acting president, handed him the mandate to form the government.

If the opposition refers the case to the Constitutional Court, the debate over the legality of the steps taken will continue even after the new government is sworn in.

Meanwhile, the most important political obstacle facing the new cabinet is the election of Kosovo’s president.

At least 80 deputies must be present in the Assembly for the presidential vote to take place. For this reason, the majority that voted for the government is not sufficient, and an agreement with the opposition is required.

Kurti and Lumir Abdixhiku, leader of the LDK, have reportedly agreed to support law professor Bekim Sejdiu for the post of president. However, six LDK deputies have declared that they will not implement this agreement.

These positions leave the achievement of a quorum and securing the necessary number of votes uncertain. If the Assembly fails to elect a president within the deadline set by the Constitution, Kosovo could once again head to snap elections.

With 62 votes, Kurti secured the formation of the government, but not full institutional stability. The political confrontation is now expected to center on the election of the president and the Constitutional Court’s assessment of the procedure.