Political crisis continues, Assembly fails to reach agreement to unblock the situation

The deadline set by the Constitutional Court for the constitution of the eleventh Legislature expired on August 7, but lawmakers failed to complete the process. Clashes between political parties continue, while the functioning of institutions is facing increasingly serious consequences. The Kosovo Democratic Institute estimates that the country is moving closer to a new election process.

Although they were elected by citizens, lawmakers failed to complete the constitution of the new legislature within the constitutional deadline, which expired on August 7.

Vetëvendosje, which emerged victorious in the June 7 elections, has requested more time to consider the possibility of a political agreement on the election of a new president. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Kosovo, the Democratic League of Kosovo and the Alliance insist that the Assembly be constituted.

Political analyst Artan Muhaxhiri considers the current crisis extremely serious and concerning, linking it to last year’s political deadlock. According to him, in the absence of a solution between the parties, the Constitutional Court may once again be the institution to bring the situation to an end.

Muhaxhiri says that the political parties are proving incapable and irresponsible in finding an acceptable compromise on their own. For this reason, he expects the Constitutional Court to be forced to issue a decision which, due to political irresponsibility, could create a negative precedent for the state of Kosovo.

The analyst warns that prolonging the crisis would further damage Kosovo’s image. According to him, the political solution is linked to a compromise over the post of president, which should go to the party that won the elections.

He stresses that this is the only possibility for unblocking the situation and that Mr. Kurti, together with his party, should accept this option. Muhaxhiri assesses that any other alternative would mean the continuation of the deadlock and the current crisis. He warns that if the issue is not finally resolved, Kosovo could become an object of ridicule, as the parties are neither finding a solution nor making use of the legal avenues that could help overcome the impasse.

The political situation has also been commented on by the Kosovo Democratic Institute. According to KDI, current developments are pushing the country toward new elections, but another election process could also result in a new deadlock.

Naim Jakaj of KDI said that new elections risk producing another political impasse. He said that dozens of institutions and collegial bodies remain unfilled because the Assembly and the Government have not made the relevant appointments. As a result, some of them are paralyzed, some operate with limited capacity, while others have no boards or leaders with a full mandate.

According to KDI’s assessment, this situation affects at least 24 institutions. The institute warns that the consequences harm the normal functioning of the state, undermine the rule of law and weaken the institutional integrity of the Republic of Kosovo. Meanwhile, the political parties have still failed to reach an agreement to end the institutional deadlock.