2 weeks ago
Kosovo Re-Elects Albin Kurti as Prime Minister Amid Crisis
Kosovo’s lawmakers chose Albin Kurti to serve again as prime minister.
He received 62 votes in the 120-seat parliament.
Kurti said his government would work on security and prosperity.
However, political disagreements have not ended.
Parliament still needs to elect a president.
A group of lawmakers disagrees with a deal supporting Bekim Sejdiu for that job.
Several opposition parties boycotted the session.
If lawmakers cannot choose a president, Kosovo may have another election.
The continuing uncertainty could slow reforms and efforts to join the European Union.
Kosovo’s parliament re-elected Albin Kurti as prime minister with 62 of 120 votes.
Kurti’s party finished first in June elections, but parliament remains divided over forming stable institutions.
A deal to support Bekim Sejdiu for president was challenged by six Democratic League of Kosovo lawmakers.
The Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Alliance boycotted the session, while the Democratic League of Kosovo did not vote for the government.
Failure to elect a president could trigger Kosovo’s fourth snap election in two years and further delay reforms and European Union funding.
- Who
- Albin Kurti was re-elected by Kosovo’s parliament; opposition parties and Democratic League of Kosovo lawmakers opposed or did not participate in parts of the process.
- What
- Kurti was re-elected prime minister, but parliament still faces a dispute over electing a president.
- Where
- Kosovo, in its parliament in Pristina.
- When
- Kurti was re-elected on Sunday, September 13, after June parliamentary elections.
- Why
- Kurti’s party won the most votes in June, while political divisions have continued to obstruct government formation, presidential election efforts, reforms and access to European Union funding.
Government and coalition supporters
Opposition and dissenting lawmakers
Kurti’s new mandate
Government and coalition supporters
Kurti said the mandate would restore security and prosperity and argued that repeated elections had interrupted the same government from governing.
Opposition and dissenting lawmakers
Opposition parties boycotted the parliamentary session, and the Democratic League of Kosovo did not participate in voting for the new government.
Presidential selection
Government and coalition supporters
Kurti reached an agreement with the Democratic League of Kosovo to support Bekim Sejdiu as president.
Opposition and dissenting lawmakers
Six Democratic League of Kosovo lawmakers said they would not follow their leader’s decision, leaving the presidential vote uncertain.
Parliamentary process
Government and coalition supporters
Kurti’s government was re-elected after his party came first in the June elections.
Opposition and dissenting lawmakers
The Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Alliance said they would ask the Constitutional Court whether parliament was constituted lawfully.
Key facts
- Prime minister
- Albin Kurti
- Election result
- 62 votes in the 120-seat parliament
- Presidential candidate
- Law professor Bekim Sejdiu
- Presidential threshold
- Two-thirds of parliamentary votes are required
- Political risk
- Failure to elect a president could lead to another snap election
- Potential election count
- The fourth snap election in two years
- European Union impact
- Political instability has delayed reforms and slowed access to European Union funding
Quotes
Albin Kurti
Kosovo’s re-elected prime minister
“This mandate is about strongly restoring security and prosperity for citizens.”
theprint.in
“Repeated elections have only interrupted the same government from governing.”
theprint.in
Sources
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