Canaj: Rasic’s election does not resolve the institutional crisis, the Government will not be formed

Political analyst Blerim Canaj stated that today’s election of Nenad Rasic as Deputy Speaker of Parliament representing the Serbian community has not resolved the institutional crisis in Kosovo, emphasizing that the formation of a new government will not take place and that new parliamentary elections are becoming increasingly likely.

Canaj noted that it is well known that the position of Deputy Speaker belongs to the Serbian community, but the issue lies in how the Constitution defines this right, as the Serb List  has once again announced that it will file a complaint.

“That is why the Serb List is now submitting a complaint to the Constitutional Court, and this will certainly be addressed. Logically speaking, they (the Serb List) should hold that position since they received the most votes, but the question is—after Banjska, who would vote for the Serb List, since it’s unclear what it represents anymore,” Canaj said, adding that this is why Albanian parties remain reserved toward this political option.

He expressed doubt that a new government would be formed, stressing that Self-Determination lacks the necessary support.

“The government will not be formed because the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has been clear—it is not willing to enter a coalition with either Self-Determination or the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). They have stated they are open only to elections,” Canaj told Kosovo Online.

He added that the Constitutional Court’s response to the Serb List’s appeal will depend on the specific question the party submits.

“The Constitutional Court responds only to the question asked, so it remains to be seen what kind of question the Serb List will pose in order to anticipate the answer. For now, we don’t know. If we look at the whole process, the Supreme Court has ruled that one cannot simultaneously serve as Prime Minister or Minister and as a Member of Parliament. It is therefore quite possible that all votes were unconstitutional, and the process could start over. The question is whether we want that, or whether we want new elections. I believe everyone now favors elections, also because in April we will face an issue regarding the presidential elections,” Canaj explained.

Nenad Rasic, a Member of Parliament and Minister for Communities and Returns in the outgoing government, was elected today as Deputy Speaker of the Kosovo Assembly from the Serbian community, after none of the Serb List candidates received enough votes.

Representatives of the Serb List announced an appeal, describing the session as yet another “farce” that demonstrated that “law and justice no longer exist.”