site.btaKosovo Government Remains in Limbo as Parliament Hits Stalemate

Kosovo’s Parliament made its 54th and final attempt to elect its speaker late on Saturday evening, but the vote once again ended in failure, the news portal Koha.net reported. The session, held at 10 p.m., was an extraordinary sitting convened after the 53rd vote earlier in the day also failed.

This marks the expiry of the 30-day deadline imposed by the Constitutional Court for Parliament to elect a speaker and formally convene. With the deadline now passed, a temporary measure issued by the Court comes into effect, prohibiting MPs from taking any decisions or actions between July 27 and August 8. During this period, the Court is expected to issue a ruling on the political deadlock in Kosovo.

For months, Kosovo has been unable to elect a new parliamentary speaker or form a government following parliamentary elections held on February 9. On June 26, the Constitutional Court ruled that MPs must convene Parliament within 30 days, stating that failure to do so would constitute a violation of the country's public and constitutional order.

The left-wing nationalist Self-Determination Movement (LVV), led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti, which won the February elections without securing an absolute majority, remains committed to its candidate for the speakership, outgoing Minister of Justice Albulena Haxhiu. The party is also pushing for a shift from open to secret voting for the speaker, in an effort to reduce pressure on MPs during the ballot.

The inability of Kosovo’s Parliament to convene formally prevents the formation of a regular government, leaving Kurti’s cabinet in a caretaker capacity.