2025 Kosovo Assembly deadlock

On 9 February 2025, Kosovo held parliamentary elections to choose the 120 members of its Assembly. The winner of these elections was Vetëvendosje (LVV) with 42,3% of the vote— or 48 Assembly seats —which makes up a plurality rather than a majority. The winning party is required by law to appoint the new Speaker of the Assembly within 30 days after the results are certified, needing to pass the threshold of 61 votes (an absolute majority).[1][2] LVV's proposition for Assembly Speaker is the outgoing Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu. The voting process began on 15 April 2025, and failed with 52 votes "for", 46 "against" and 11 abstentions.[3][4] The meeting was delayed by 48 hours as per Kosovo's legal framework, and the members reconvened again on 19 April. The members did not reach a consensus once more.[5][6] The meeting was delayed more than 40 times as a result of the opposition parties categorically refusing the proposed candidate, which has been called a "deadlock" or "blockade" by all parties. On 26 August, Dimal Basha from LVV was voted as Assembly Speaker on his second proposal with a majority vote of 73 to 30.[7][8]

All parties have accused each-other of trying to block the process, and have refused several options, such as the option for a secret ballot which was proposed by lawmakers.[9][10] Haxhiu has said that if a secret ballot goes ahead and she does not receive the required 61 votes, she would withdraw.[11][12] Neither opposition party has proposed its own candidate for Assembly Speaker.

On 26 June, the Constitutional Court ruled that the deadlock must be ended within 30 days (by 26 July).[13][14] Following the court's decision, President Vjosa Osmani began to meet with party leaders to find an agreement.[15]

The deadlock has been met with symbolic civil protests.[16][17] In one protest on 3 July, the lawyer Arianit Koci gained a lot of media attention after he brought four donkeys in front of the doors of the Assembly, to symbolize "the stubbornness that the Assembly members are showing".[18][19] By 27 July, there were 54 votes in total before the deadline set by the Constitutional Court.[14][20][21]

On 8 August, the Court gave MPs another 30 days to elect a speaker. It however stipulated that no candidate could be proposed more than three times, and that MPs must be present to vote during the sessions. The Court also found that the acting speaker had violated the constitution by continuing to call for a commission to establish a secret ballot.[22][23]

No. Candidate Party Pro Against Abstention Date
1 Albulena Haxhiu VV 57 56 3 20 August[24][25]
2 Donika Gërvalla Guxo 57 56 3
3 Hekuran Murati VV 57 51 6 22 August[26]
4 55 46 5 24 August[27][28][29]
5 Arbërie Nagavci 55 47 4
6 Dimal Basha 57 25 24
7 73 30 8 26 August[30]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Sot tentohet për herë të 34 konstituimi i Kuvendit të Kosovës, s'ka sinjale për dalje nga ngërçi". Gazeta Express (in Albanian). 19 June 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  2. ^ Vatovci, Isa (27 March 2025). "Certifikimi i rezultatit të zgjedhjeve, Bekim Kupina: Presidentja do të thërrasë seancën konstituive të Kuvendit brenda afatit kushtetues". Kallxo (in Albanian). Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  3. ^ Isufi, Antigonë; Xhema, Shqipron (15 April 2025). "Ndërpritet seanca konstituive e Kuvendit të Kosovës". Kallxo (in Albanian).
  4. ^ Isufi, Antigonë (15 April 2025). "Ndërprerja e seancës konstituive: Çka tutje?". Kallxo (in Albanian). Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Sot vazhdon seanca për zgjedhjen e Kryetarit të Kuvendit". Kallxo (in Albanian). 21 April 2025.
  6. ^ Isufi, Antigonë; Xhema, Shqipron (19 April 2025). "Haxhiu dështon të zgjidhet kryeparlamentare, seanca konstituive vazhdon të hënën". Kallxo (in Albanian). Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  7. ^ "LIVE: Dimal Basha zgjidhet kryeparlamentar". KOHA.net (in Albanian). 26 August 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Ngërçi merr fund në Kuvend, Basha zë ulësen e kryetarit". TËVË 1 (in Albanian). 26 August 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Ngërçi në Kuvend nuk zhbllokohet as pas përpjekjes së 15-të". Radio Evropa e Lirë (in Albanian). 13 May 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Kosovo Faces Deepening Political Crisis After 21 Failed Attempts To Elect Speaker". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 26 May 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  11. ^ Express, Gazeta (27 June 2025). "Haxhiu: If I do not receive at least 61 votes, I will withdraw from my candidacy for Speaker of the Kosovo Assembly". Gazeta Express. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  12. ^ Bami, Xhorxhina (27 June 2025). "Kosovo PM Seeks Consensus as Court Orders End to Parliament Deadlock". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  13. ^ Bami, Xhorxhina (27 June 2025). "Kosovo PM Seeks Consensus as Court Orders End to Parliament Deadlock". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  14. ^ a b "One week from the Constitutional deadline for the constitution of the Assembly". KOHA.net. 20 July 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  15. ^ ""The deadlines are running out", the 41st attempt to constitute the Assembly". Telegrafi. 3 July 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  16. ^ Sulaj, Agim (17 June 2025). "Disa qytetarë kundërshtojnë me protestë bllokadën e Kuvendit të Kosovës". Anadolu Agency (in Albanian). Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  17. ^ "Protesta e veteranëve të UÇK, nisen drejt Kuvendit të Kosovës mjete të blinduara". www.balkanweb.com (in Albanian). Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  18. ^ Zh, Xh (3 July 2025). "Kuvendi i Kosovës dështon të konstituohet për herë të 41-të, shoqëria civile proteston para institucionit". Vizion Plus. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  19. ^ "Kosovë/ Avokati sjell në Kuvend 4 gomerë: Simbolizojnë kryeneçësinë e politikanëve (VIDEO) - Shqiptarja.com". shqiptarja.com (in Albanian). Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  20. ^ Express, Gazeta (19 July 2025). "Reçica does not declare for Limaj, says Albin Kurti will not give him the post of Speaker of Parliament". Gazeta Express. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  21. ^ "Kosovo Government Remains in Limbo as Parliament Hits Stalemate". www.bta.bg. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  22. ^ Bami, Xhorxhina (8 August 2025). "Kosovo Court Gives MPs 30 More Days to Inaugurate Parliament". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  23. ^ "Constitutional Court rules on blockade in Parliament". KOHA.net. 8 August 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  24. ^ "LAJMI I FUNDIT: Dështon edhe njëherë Albulena Haxhiu për t'u bërë kryetare e Kuvendit". Veriu.info (in Albanian). 20 August 2025.
  25. ^ "Opozita nuk e mbështet Donika Gërvallën/ Dështon tentativa e dytë për zgjedhjen e kryetares së Kuvendit". Indeksonline (in Albanian). 20 August 2025.
  26. ^ "Dështon propozimi i ri i LVV-së, as Hekuran Murati nuk i merr votat e mjaftueshme për kryeparlamentar". Kallxo.com (in Albanian). 22 August 2025.
  27. ^ "Hekuran Murati dështon të zgjidhet kryetar Kuvendi". Gazeta Blic (in Albanian). 24 August 2025.
  28. ^ "Edhe kandidatura e dytë e propozuar nga VV-ja, Arbërie Nagavci, dështon të zgjedhet kryekuvendare". Gazetablic (in Albanian). 24 August 2025.
  29. ^ "Edhe deputeti tjetër nga VV, Dimal Basha, dështon të zgjedhet kryeparlamentar". Gazetablic (in Albanian). 24 August 2025.
  30. ^ "Dimal Basha zgjidhet kryetar i Kuvendit të Kosovës". Deutsche Welle (in Albanian). 26 August 2025.
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