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Kosovo political deadlock and assembly leadership impasse

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2026-09-09 06:02 UTC → 2026-09-11 06:09 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Kosovo political deadlock and ~~presidential election~~ assembly leadership impasse

The institutional crisis in Kosovo intensified in mid-August 2026 as political parties remained deadlocked over the election of a new president and the constitution of the 11th legislature. Following the expiration of the August 7 constitutional deadline, Acting President Albulena Haxhiu warned that without an agreement, the country may face a new cycle of elections. Negotiations between Prime Minister Albin Kurti and LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku led to a breakthrough on August 30, when Vetëvendosje and the LDK reached an agreement to support Bekim ~~Sejdiu, a law professor and former Constitutional Court judge,~~ Sejdiu as a joint presidential candidate. ~~Internal~~ However, internal resistance within the ~~LDK~~ LDK, including six deputies, has threatened ~~the viability of~~ this agreement. Six LDK deputies—Avdullah Hoti, Hykmete Bajrami, Kujtim Shala, Arben Gashi, Armend Zemaj, and Janina Ymeri—have declared they will not support Sejdiu. LDK Deputy Chairman Lutfi Haziri noted that Sejdiu appeared on both LDK and Vetëvendosje lists, suggesting Abdixhiku was aware the candidate lacked sufficient internal votes. As of September 8, Albulena Haxhiu was re-elected as Speaker of the ~~Kosovo~~ Assembly ~~is preparing to resume its~~ with 62 votes, but the constitutive ~~session to elect~~ process remains stalled regarding the ~~Speaker and Deputy Speakers.~~ election of five deputy speakers. While the PDK and LDK have ~~confirmed participation—with~~ participated, the ~~PDK intending to propose Vlora Çitaku for Deputy Speaker—the~~ Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) has ~~announced a boycott. The AAK argues that participating would legitimize~~ boycotted the sessions, citing constitutional violations. By September 10, the deadlock shifted to the selection of Vice Presidents. Disagreements emerged when Igor Simiq of the Serbian List proposed a ~~violation~~ candidate “in the name of the ~~law,~~ Serbian people,” a phrasing the Vetëvendosje movement rejected as unconstitutional. Analysts characterized this objection as a “populist act” intended to delay the ~~session is being held outside~~ Assembly’s constitution. In response, LDK leader Isa Mustafa criticized Vetëvendosje, labeling their approach a “dictatorship wrapped in numbers.” Meanwhile, the ~~constitutional deadline. The Democratic Institute for Kosovo (KDI)~~ PDK has ~~noted that the breach of~~ met with US Embassy officials to discuss the ~~30-day deadline creates “significant legal uncertainty”~~ crisis. Legal experts and ~~has urged deputies~~ civil society continue to ~~seek~~ warn of a ~~formal legal interpretation from~~ constitutional vacuum, urging the Constitutional Court to intervene regarding the ~~validity~~ breach of the ~~assembly’s actions.~~ 30-day deadline.

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