The Democratic Institute of Kosovo has said that the failure to constitute the Assembly is the result of institutional mismanagement and the lack of legal preparation on the part of the majority. The organization said that the Vetëvendosje Movement, as the winning party, has the obligation to secure the necessary votes to elect the speaker.
The deputies of the ninth legislature on Tuesday did not support the report of the Temporary Committee for the Verification of Quorum and Mandates. According to the parties that were in opposition until now, the demand is that members of the Vetëvendosje Movement must resign from government positions before becoming deputies. This was opposed by the VV, which said that its members have already resigned.
“The failure to vote on the report of the Temporary Committee for the Verification of Quorum and Mandates caused today’s constitutive session to be interrupted. With only 52 votes in favor – insufficient for approval – it was clearly proven that there is a discrepancy between the public statements of the Vetëvendosje Movement on ensuring the necessary majority and the parliamentary reality. Although all deputies are obliged to act in the function of the constitution of the Assembly, the failure to formally resign by the members of the government who have won a legislative mandate was the main factor that led to today’s failure of the session. In this context, we assess that this failure cannot be attributed solely to the opposition, when the majority claims to have the votes, but is the result of institutional mismanagement and the lack of legal preparation on the part of the majority,” reads a statement from KDI after the failure of the constitution.
KDI has said that attempts to include the role of the president to give direction to the constitution are invalid.
“The role and powers of the President end with the call for the session – while its management is the exclusive responsibility of the chair of the session, Avni Dehari. The solution is possible and necessary!” the statement further states.
In the end, KDI said that it is the Vetëvendosje Movement, as the winning party of the February 9 elections, that has the obligation to secure the necessary votes to elect the speaker of parliament.
“The continuation of the session should be called as soon as possible, within 48 hours, to enable the temporary committee to meet again, which should review and verify the relevant materials once again – which must be complete. Then, it is the responsibility of all 120 deputies to vote in favor of the report and take the oath. Finally, LVV, as the winning party, has the obligation to secure the necessary votes for the election of the Speaker of the Assembly – through discussions, negotiation and political compromise – in order to use all opportunities for the formation of institutions and avoid new elections,” the reaction states.
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