Kosovo assembly constituted, Isa Mustafa elected speaker

Source:Xinhua Published: 2014-7-17 22:59:05

The new Kosovo Assembly is constituted on Thursday, based on the results of 8 June early general elections.

In a tense inaugural session, the leader of the opposition Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Isa Mustafa, is elected Speaker of the Assembly despite a narrow win of former "Prime Minister" Hashim Thaci in the elections.

Mustafa established an after-elections coalition with two Albanian political parties, AAK and NISMA and managed to get 65 votes in 120-seated assembly thanks to the support of representatives of minority communities in Kosovo.

In his first official addressing in the Assembly after the election, Mustafa pledged to work in the interests of all parliamentary groups.

"I will work hard for the integration of minority communities (in the Kosovo society) of those that voted for me today," said Mustafa. In addition he promised a hard work in dealing with corruption and enforcing the partnership with international community.

Together with AAK and NISMA, LDK has 47 MPs, ten more than PDK which emerged as the winner of June elections. But, none of Albanian parties represented in the assembly accepted to join PDK in the coalition therefore they decided to establish a joint coalition against Thaci.

Since the first session was chaired by the oldest MP Flora Brovina from PDK, she tried to interrupt the session and prevent the opposition block to elect the Speaker forcing the assembly to break in few occasions. However, the opposition block proceeded without PDK present in the session and elected the speaker and two vice-speakers.

Both Serbian MPs and other communities, both sides represented by ten MPs in the assembly, in total 20, supported the election of Mustafa, and most probably will join LDK-AAK and NISMA in the government if they manage to form it in the upcoming weeks.

The next challenge for both camps is the formation of the government since both sides pledge to have the right in forming it. It's obvious that winning PDK does not enjoy the support of other parties for having 61 needed votes in the assembly, but the Constitutional Court ordered the "president" of Kosovo to nominate the winning party for forming the government in the first instance.

It's up to the "president" to nominate the appropriate candidate in the second attempt if the first one fails to form the government in 15 days period.

Kosovo, a Serbian province, unilaterally declared independence in 2008. Serbia refuses to recognize Kosovo as an independent country.

Posted in: Europe

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