PRISTINA: Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani’s five-year term formally expired on Saturday, prompting her to temporarily hand over her duties to Parliament Speaker Albulena Haxhiu.
Haxhiu, who comes from the leading centre-left Vetevendosje party, will serve as acting president after Parliament failed to elect a new one, while Osmani did not secure enough backing from lawmakers for a second term.
“I believe that the Assembly will elect a new president as soon as possible,” said Osmani.
Haxhiu can remain in the presidential office for half a year, but the Constitutional Court in late March gave lawmakers until April 28 to elect a new president.
If they fail to do so, Kosovo will be forced to hold fresh early parliamentary elections within 45 days.
Kosovo’s president is elected by Parliament, but requires a two-thirds majority in the 120-seat Assembly.
The Parliament formed in February after snap elections failed to agree on a head of state, prompting Osmani in early March to dissolve Parliament, and raising the prospect of a third election in just over a year.
The Constitutional Court, however, ruled that Osmani’s decree had no legal effect, upholding a challenge by Prime Minister Albin Kurti and obliging lawmakers either to elect a president or to hold new elections.
Handing over a term to Haxhiu, Osmani said that she had always wanted to be replaced by a woman.
“And this wish is being fulfilled today,” Osmani said.
The Balkan nation has been in a political crisis since an inconclusive general election early last year, which eventually forced a snap poll in December.
While Kurti’s party won that election, he still lacked the numbers required to get his choice of president voted into office.
