Parliament to continue session today, with election of deputy speakers in focus

Kosovo’s Parliament will continue its constitutive session today, with the election of deputy speakers on the agenda.

Parliament Speaker Albulena Haxhiu called the session after Vlora Çitaku’s candidacy failed to secure approval in Friday’s vote.

During that vote, LVV lawmakers abstained, preventing the PDK candidate from securing the votes needed for the post of deputy speaker.

At the same session, lawmakers elected Ardian Gola of LVV as deputy speaker of Parliament.

Following Çitaku’s non-election, the PDK decided not to take part in the further continuation of the constitutive session.

Another session was called later that same day, just a few hours afterward, but PDK lawmakers were absent.

Meanwhile, the LDK called for the order of the process to be respected, stressing that Kujtim Shala’s candidacy could not be put to a vote before the PDK’s candidate was voted on.

The situation changed on Sunday evening, when LVV announced that it would vote in support of both candidates for deputy speaker: Vlora Çitaku from the PDK and Kujtim Shala from the LDK.

LVV representatives have expressed hope that the election of the deputy speakers will pave the way for the continuation of the institutional process and will not become an obstacle to the election of Kosovo’s next president.

Today’s session is scheduled to begin at 10:00.

It is still unknown whether the PDK and LDK will be present, and whether Parliament will manage to complete the process of electing the deputy speakers.