The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, said that it is in the hands of the political parties to form the new Government, stressing that she very much hopes that they will find a common language so that the country has an executive with a full mandate as soon as possible.
“I really hope that as soon as possible we have a Government with a full constitutional mandate, because as you know, the Government in office has limited powers according to the Law on Government. This then hinders not only the work of the Government, but the state as a whole”, Osmani told reporters, after participating in an event at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo.
Osmani said that an executive with a full mandate would be able to push forward reforms, approve a comprehensive budget and make other decisions.
“But when this will happen, as you said, it is in the hands of the political parties, which I very much hope will find a common language and the citizens of Kosovo, in accordance with their will expressed in the elections, will have a Government with a full mandate,” said the country’s first president.
Osmani has mandated the acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, for the formation of the new Government of Kosovo. He has until October 26 to present to the Assembly the new government composition, which must be approved by 61 votes.
Kurti’s party, Lévizja Vetëvendosje, came first in the February 9 elections, but did not receive enough votes to govern alone.
Kurti has warned that in the coming days he will hold discussions with the parties on the formation of the governing coalition.
“There are 15 days from the mandated date, and of course the deadlines run, but negotiations for coalitions are only between parties, in this case they can also be done with MPs. But, they are discussions between political parties, in which, as president, I should not interfere. Consequently, I cannot know how far those negotiations have reached, potentially”, stated Osmani.
The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu from the LVV, has stated a few days ago that her party can discuss with the Democratic League of Kosovo about a possible coalition, since the Social Democratic Initiative has not been interested in being involved in governance.
She has ruled out any possible coalition with the Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Serbian List – the largest party of Serbs in Kosovo, which enjoys the support of Belgrade.
Haxhiu has also mentioned the possibility of discussing with individual MPs about voting for the new Government of Kosovo.
Those familiar with political developments told Radio Free Europe that the competition of political parties for the second round of local elections – to be held on November 9 – could affect the negotiations for the formation of the new executive.
If Kurti fails to secure the necessary 61 votes until October 26, then Osmani, according to the laws, is obliged to invite the political parties to a consultation once again within 10 days, and to decide, according to her discretion, for the new representative, if she proves to her that she has the numbers to form the Government.
Even the next representative should have 15 days to present the composition of the government cabinet to the Assembly.
If the Government is not formed even after 40 days, President Osmani must announce new elections. /rel/
