TIRANA, April 28 – The constitutional deadline set by the Constitutional Court for the election of Kosova’s new president expires at midnight tonight, while political parties have still not reached agreement on a candidate.

The 28 April deadline followed a decree issued on 6 March by former president Vjosa Osmani, dissolving the Assembly. The move came after the presidential election failed to conclude by the 5 March deadline due to a lack of quorum.

The Constitutional Court later annulled the decree and ruled it had no legal effect. It ordered the Assembly to elect a new president by 28 April.

If the deadline is not met, the country is expected to go to early parliamentary elections, which must take place within 45 days.

Political parties have still not reached agreement on presidential candidates despite several attempts.

Under Kosova’s Constitution, at least 80 Members of Parliament must be present for a valid presidential session. If no candidate secures the required votes in the first two rounds, a third round takes place. At that stage, at least 80 MPs must participate, and the candidate who wins at least 60 votes becomes president.

In the 27 April session, fewer than 70 MPs from the parliamentary majority attended. The opposition did not take part.

The Vetëvendosje [Self-Determination] Movement convened the session and proposed two candidates: Feride Rushiti and Hatixhe Hoxha.

Although the quorum was not met, the first round of voting went ahead. Feride Rushiti won 63 votes, Hatixhe Hoxha received none, and one vote was invalid.

After the session, opposition parties and civil society representatives said the vote without quorum undermines the legitimacy of the process and the constitutional order.

/a.p./