Kosovo’s Provisional Institutions of Self-Government were established in 2001. Since then, eight political figures have served at the helm of the Assembly across 10 legislatures.

The first term leading the legislature went to Nexhat Daci. He was elected speaker as an LDK lawmaker following the first parliamentary elections and held the post from 2001 to 2006. However, he did not complete his second term, as he was replaced in the post by his party colleague, Kolë Berisha.

Berisha led the Assembly until the end of the second legislature in November 2007.

After him, Jakup Krasniqi of the PDK took over as head of the Assembly. He served in the role for two terms, until the end of 2014. While Krasniqi was speaker, on February 17, 2008, the Assembly adopted the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Kosovo.

Following the 2014 elections, the political crisis was resolved with the election of Kadri Veseli, also of the PDK, as speaker of the Assembly. Veseli served two terms, both cut short midway, until the end of the 6th Legislature in 2019.

In December of that same year, the Assembly elected Glauk Konjufca of Vetëvendosje as speaker. He remained in the post for only a few weeks and resigned in February 2020 after being appointed deputy prime minister in the Kurti 1 Government. This development came as part of the power-sharing agreement between VV and the LDK.

After Konjufca’s departure, Vjosa Osmani became speaker of the Assembly. She held the post until March 2021, when she was elected president of the Republic of Kosovo as the candidate nominated by Albin Kurti’s party.

That legislature ended early, as the Assembly was dissolved following the constitutional “dismissal” of Avdullah Hoti from the post of prime minister.

With the formation of the 8th Legislature, lawmakers from the majority once again entrusted Glauk Konjufca with leading the Assembly. He held the post until the end of that legislature.

In the 9th Legislature, the position of speaker went to Dimal Basha. His election came after a prolonged deadlock during which Vetëvendosje’s first candidate, Albulena Haxhiu, failed to secure the necessary votes despite more than 50 attempts.

Haxhiu was eventually elected speaker in the new, 10th Legislature. That legislature lasted only a few months, as Kosovo went to snap elections because of the failure to elect the country’s president.

The name of the new speaker of the Assembly was expected to be decided this Thursday during the constitutive session. But Albin Kurti, the leader of the winning party, Vetëvendosje, requested that the procedure be suspended until an agreement was reached on electing the president.

If the leadership of the Assembly is again entrusted to a VV representative, the party will have the highest number of Assembly speakers: three or four, depending on whether Albulena Haxhiu continues in the role. VV’s other two names are Glauk Konjufca and Dimal Basha.

This count does not include Avni Dehari, who, as the oldest lawmaker, presided over the Assembly’s proceedings for several months during the 9th Legislature in the capacity of “chair.”

The LDK ranks second in the number of Assembly speakers, with Nexhat Daci, Kolë Berisha and Vjosa Osmani.

The PDK has had two Assembly speakers and a total of four terms in the post: two terms for Jakup Krasniqi and two for Kadri Veseli.

The post From Nexhat Daci to Albulena Haxhiu: Who Has Led the Kosovo Assembly Since 2001? appeared first on Albeu.com.