Chocolate: Constitutional decision to bring clarity, but also tensions between two sides

The country's president, Hashim Thaci, has made public yesterday the decree through which he mandates Avdullah Hoti of the Democratic League of Kosovo for new prime minister. Shortly after, the Vetevendosje Movement has submitted to the Constitutional Court the request for assessing the constitutionality of the president's decree. The Constitution is expected to come up with the decision about constitutionality of the decree, or even initially about the possibility of suspending the new government's vote.

Eugen Cakoli from the Kosovo Democratic Institute says there will be uncertainty about the issue until a merit decision by the Constitutional Court.

He says the first challenge of parties aiming to lead the executive, even if they secure the votes for government formation, is to confront the Constitutional Court.

“In this situation we are in, the country needs a clarity, the issue of the mandate should be clarified, then a government with full capacity for the issue of pandemic. I consider that the first challenge, if the necessary votes for the election of the new government are achieved, will be to confront the Constitutional Court”, he says.

He also sees a tension between the Vetevendosje Movement and parties aiming to form the new government.

Chocolate: I expect clarity, maybe a kind of tension between both sides.

There will be further uncertainty on the political scene as to the issue we are in, and only after offering a decision on the part of the Constitutional Court, whether at first in a temporary measure or then with a merit decision, I expect that we will have clarity, maybe a kind of tension between the two sides, since we have already seen, especially in social networks there is a kind of virtual war between the two tobors. On the one hand, the Vetevendosje Movement, which has consistently called for elections and on the other side political subjects which ensure they have the necessary number of votes and therefore can vote on a new government”, it says.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci at a news conference yesterday afternoon made the last step public, which leads towards voting the new government.

“I have just decreed Mr. Avdullah Hotin as nominated for new prime minister of the Republic of Kosovo”, Thaci said.

Without wasting time, the Vetevendosje Movement sent the president's decree to the Constitutional Court and called for temporary measures about holding the session.

From this party, it was said the president has committed constitutional violations.

With this decree we appreciate that the president has continued to violate the Constitution, and as such we have brought him here to the Constitutional Court for assessment”, Rexhep Selimi from the Vetevendosje Movement said.

While political parties aiming to form government, The LDK, AAK, the Initiative of Minorities, has submitted signatures yesterday for holding an extraordinary session for the government vote, which they have sought to hold Saturday.

All of this is happening at a time when the country is still facing the Covid-19 pandemic, and when measures imposed by the Health Ministry for limiting movement and maintaining social distance are still in force.

However, the practice thus far has shown that on the basis of recommendations by the National Public Health Institute in Kosovo, the Assembly sessions can be held if distance is guaranteed between MPs and if hygiene is secured.