Kryeziu: An unprecedented situation, greatest responsibility lies with Self-Determination

Former Constitutional Court judge Kadri Kryeziu said that the situation in which the constituent session of the Kosovo Assembly was adjourned without a proposed candidate for Speaker is unprecedented, and that the greatest responsibility lies with Self-Determination, which has the right to nominate that candidate, Kosova Press reports.

Kryeziu said that political parties have a legal and constitutional obligation to constitute the institutions, adding that prolonging the process is harming Kosovo.

“This is an unprecedented situation that has never happened before. Based on my parliamentary experience, when the time came to propose, that is, nominate a candidate for Speaker of the Assembly, a candidate was always put forward. This is the first time such a thing has happened in the parliamentary history of the Republic of Kosovo. The main responsibility lies with the first-ranked party, which has the right to nominate a candidate and elect the Speaker, as well as the deputy speakers of parliament, after which the parliament is considered constituted,” Kryeziu explained.

He noted that members of parliament have a constitutional obligation to constitute the institutions.

“Political parties must rise to the occasion. They have legal and constitutional obligations to constitute the institutions so that the state can move forward. Otherwise, this way of acting degrades the state, creates anarchy, and our international friends who helped us will be disappointed. That is why I once again appeal to them to constitute all state institutions, beginning with parliament as the most important institution, then the government, and finally the president,” Kryeziu stressed.

He pointed out that the political deadlock is no longer the result of constitutional ambiguities, but rather a lack of political will and agreement among the parties.

He warned that if the current situation continues, Kosovo could once again face snap elections, which, he believes, would not resolve the crisis.

“From what I can see, these are political problems and a matter of political will rather than constitutional issues. The trend is moving toward holding snap elections once again. I believe the reason is the lack of consensus, agreement among the political parties, and the absence of reciprocity and mutual respect between the opposition and the government. That is a bad decision that produces very negative consequences, both domestically and internationally. I do not think it serves anyone's interests, least of all the people's. Citizens will not turn out to vote in greater numbers. On the contrary, voter turnout will be very low, just as it was last time, perhaps even lower. There is no benefit in that, because the situation could simply be recycled again, just as it was recycled in June,” Kryeziu said.