Sjka kuorum, new KDR leader's election again fails

Kosovo Judiciary Council member Rrustem Thaqi, who is also one of the candidates for leadership, has raised concerns about the lack of quorum.

“Sic you're aware, I'm one of the candidates for KPC leaders, and it's not important for me at all whether I or anyone else will be elected for KDR leadership, but it's very important and it's extremely important that the KDR leader be elected. If we look back on the way the KDR operates, it turns out that in this institution, failure of meetings in absence of quorum has not been common. And I believe that we, all members of the KDR, are responsible for the failure of meetings and the whole process of appointing the KDR leader. I believe that the election of the leader should be a totally meritocratic aspect, because the KDR is a college organ where the work and processes should be transparent, the vote should be free and democratic, while the elected should be legitimised by the majority of KRC members, who, according to the conviction and uncognised free will vote for a 911 candidate, Thaqi said.

According to him, synchronizating actions with political structures, with interest groups and other persons precisely means the failure of the process of selecting the KDR leader.

“This implies that the process of electing the leader primarily depends on our vote, which should be fair, free and unconditional in the spirit of the process to advance the judicial system and at the same time address the important issues pending in this institution. Today I'm not saying anything unknown if choice of the leader is a process that is extremely interested in politics and certain interest groups. But that is no surprise, and that is no obstacle. But it is and will be completely unknown, unseen so far and unacceptable if we, members of the KRC, synchronise actions with political structures or interest groups to influence not only the process of electing the leader but also in ensuring and promoting the independence of the KDR and the judiciary in general. To be even clearer, the synchronization of action with political structures, with interest groups and other people accurately imply the failure of the process of selecting the KDR leader; any tendency to influence current KDR members, any tendency to favour some members of the KRG, and at the same time any tendency of pressure from within or outside the system on the KDR members<18x1>, he said.

Member Artan Abazi received criticism from the lack of judges at the meeting.

“Each member of the Judiciary Council should be held responsible, should know what task he has received, should respect this task, because if he does not respect it, it means what disrespecting the official duty means. And what makes me think what I'm saying is that the e-mail for today's meeting has been sent on April 8th. So five days before the member, Judge Fahret Velia, is missing at today's meeting, on April 8th, there has been a request to hold this meeting. The concrete judge, Fahret Velia, has waited five days to tell us 12 hours before the meeting that: I will not be able to attend because I have health and am abroad in Albania. We, once again, want success, help with his condition, but the point is we have to obey with facts. He has had five days, if he had such a situation, to inform us in time, not 12 hours before”, Ahaz.

The Kosovo Judiciary Council (KGJK) on 12 March announced the competition for new leaders, which was open until March 26th 2026. The two judges running for the position of the Judiciary Council's first one are members of this institution. Thaci is judge in the Supreme Court, and Bislimaj judges at the Court of Appeals.

According to the Kosovo Judicial Council's Organising and Activity Order, at 6 point it is determined that the chairman's “position and deputy chairmanship must be completed within thirty days, from the day these positions remain at large“. / EO/