Latest news with #Vetevendosje
Metro
2 days ago
- Politics
- Metro
Lawyer shaves his head in protest but misses a spot
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A lawyer brought out a shaver in front of reporters to protest his government's failure to constitute an assembly for the fiftieth time in a row. Standing in front of the Kosovo Assembly in Prishtina, attorney Arianit Koci defiantly shaved his white locks as onlookers filmed in awe. He said of his actions: 'They are a symbolic act. Our statehood in Kosovo is also being threatened. Friends and enemies are becoming convinced that we are not capable of maintaining a state.' Though his actions were done to make a point, it appears the passion of the moment caused him to miss quite a few patches of hair. It can always grow back, right? Koci has been met with support from Kosovans, who applauded his individual protest. One supporter wrote: 'You are the clear conscience of the nation! Every action of yours fills me with hope, and gives me the message that this country has no end.' Another added: 'Respect. Don't mess with these fools.' But the bizarre antics came as tensions in Kosovo continue to rise, as a political stalemate has persisted months after MPs were voted into office. The deadlock stems from the fact that outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti's party Vetevendosje, which topped February polls, did not win enough seats to have its choice for speaker installed. PM Kurti has been accused by other MPs of 'overthrowing constitutional order' in Kosovo by not forming an assembly 162 days after the elections. '162 days is not a lot for Albin Kurti because for him, this time is part of a plan. For the overthrow of the constitutional order, for the delegitimisation of democracy and institutions and for the undoing of the very DNA of our society. 'You will not succeed because this is not just a political crisis, it is a moral crisis, and we must stop it,' MP Vlora Çitaku said. Koci brought donkeys (notoriously stubborn animals) outside the parliament last month in another form of protest about the deadlock. Kosovo is no stranger to wild political moments. In 2023, chaos erupted when an opposition party member sprayed water at PM Kurti. The brawl became so heated that police got involved to separate the politicians. More Trending Kosovo declared independence in 2008 from Serbia. The country's independence has continued to be threatened by Serbian nationalists. The war between Kosovo and Serbia in the late 1990s saw thousands of ethnic Albanian Kosovars murdered by Serbian troops in what many dubbed a genocide. The war ended when NATO intervened by beginning air strikes in March 1999, lasting a total of 78 days, which resulted in forces withdrawing from Kosovo. By the end of the conflict, nearly 90% of Kosovo's Albanian population had been displaced. Many fled to neighbouring countries, including Albania and Macedonia. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Ragtag Zohran Mamdani protest likened to Netflix comedy sketch MORE: Deaths, fires and prison breaks: The mystery behind the eerie Annabelle doll MORE: Burglar takes 30 seconds to steal rare Pokémon cards worth £80,000 from shop
Associated Press
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Kosovo's top court asks lawmakers to end their political stalemate and elect a speaker in 30 days
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo's Constitutional Court on Thursday asked the country's newly elected lawmakers in Parliament to end three months of political stalemate and elect a new speaker within 30 days. The court's move came at the request of 11 lawmakers, and it was not clear what would happen if lawmakers fail to abide by the court's wishes. The Parliament has failed to elect a speaker since its first session on April 15 because other parties have been unwilling to work with that of acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, whose left-wing Self-Determination Movement, or Vetevendosje!, won only 48 out of 120 seats in the Feb. 9 election. That is down from 58 seats in 2021. Kurti's party has failed in 37 rounds of votes to receive the 61 votes needed to elect a new speaker. Without a speaker, Kurti cannot be formally nominated as prime minister and form a Cabinet. If the situation continues, the president can turn to any of the other parties. If no party can form a Cabinet, the country will face another parliamentary election. Kurti and the three main opposition parties have all ruled out working together in a coalition. The center-right Democratic Party of Kosovo, or PDK, won 24 seats, the conservative governing Democratic League of Kosovo, or LDK, 20 seats, and the right-wing Alliance for Kosovo's Future, AAK, eight seats. Ten seats are reserved for Kosovo's ethnic Serb minority and 10 others belong to non-Serb minority members of Parliament. A new Cabinet is needed not only to run the economy and other services, but also proceed with the 14-year-long normalization talks with Serbia, which have stalled. Kosovo holds municipal elections Oct. 12. Around 11,400 people died, mostly from Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority, in the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo, which was formerly a province of Serbia. A 78-day NATO air campaign ended the fighting and pushed Serbian forces out. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, with most Western nations recognizing its sovereignty, but Serbia and its allies Russia and China don't.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kosovo in political stalemate as parliament fails to elect speaker
By Fatos Bytyci PRISTINA (Reuters) - Kosovo's parliament failed to elect a new speaker for the fourth time on Friday, prolonging a legislative crisis that has prevented efforts to form a new government more than two months after an inconclusive election. Under Kosovo's constitution, a parliamentary speaker must be voted in before the election winner can form a government, but without cross-party support that is proving difficult, and the stalemate has exposed deep divisions in Europe's newest state. In the February 9 parliamentary election, following an acrimonious campaign in which outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti called the opposition "animals" and "thieves", his Vetevendosje party came first but did not secure an outright majority. Opposition parties, who have said they will not enter a coalition with Vetevendosje, partly blame Kurti for escalating the tensions in the country's Serb-majority north that have hobbled Kosovo's chances of joining the EU and triggered sanctions from the bloc. The fractured political scene could result in a snap election later this year if no government can be formed. Kurti's nominee for speaker, outgoing justice minister Albulena Haxhiu, received 57 votes on Friday, unchanged from previous votes and short of a required majority of 61 seats. Parliament must meet again in 48 hours to hold another vote. Opposition parties have asked Kurti to change the candidate if he wants their support. "There is no will from political parties to constitute the parliament," Haxhiu said after the vote. By law, parliament must continue to meet until a speaker is voted in. After that the country's president will give Kurti's party a mandate to form a new ruling coalition. If Kurti fails, the mandate will be handed to the second-placed Democratic Party of Kosovo and, if they do not succeed, the third-placed Democratic League of Kosovo party. If all efforts fail, the president can call snap elections - an outcome many analysts expect.
The Star
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Kosovo in political stalemate as parliament fails to elect speaker
Lawmakers gather for the plenary session to elect the new speaker of the parliament in Pristina, Kosovo April 25, 2025. REUTERS/Valdrin Xhemaj PRISTINA (Reuters) - Kosovo's parliament failed to elect a new speaker for the fourth time on Friday, prolonging a legislative crisis that has prevented efforts to form a new government more than two months after an inconclusive election. Under Kosovo's constitution, a parliamentary speaker must be voted in before the election winner can form a government, but without cross-party support that is proving difficult, and the stalemate has exposed deep divisions in Europe's newest state. In the February 9 parliamentary election, following an acrimonious campaign in which outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti called the opposition "animals" and "thieves", his Vetevendosje party came first but did not secure an outright majority. Opposition parties, who have said they will not enter a coalition with Vetevendosje, partly blame Kurti for escalating the tensions in the country's Serb-majority north that have hobbled Kosovo's chances of joining the EU and triggered sanctions from the bloc. The fractured political scene could result in a snap election later this year if no government can be formed. Kurti's nominee for speaker, outgoing justice minister Albulena Haxhiu, received 57 votes on Friday, unchanged from previous votes and short of a required majority of 61 seats. Parliament must meet again in 48 hours to hold another vote. Opposition parties have asked Kurti to change the candidate if he wants their support. "There is no will from political parties to constitute the parliament," Haxhiu said after the vote. By law, parliament must continue to meet until a speaker is voted in. After that the country's president will give Kurti's party a mandate to form a new ruling coalition. If Kurti fails, the mandate will be handed to the second-placed Democratic Party of Kosovo and, if they do not succeed, the third-placed Democratic League of Kosovo party. If all efforts fail, the president can call snap elections - an outcome many analysts expect. (Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Writing by Angeliki Koutantou; Editing by Edward McAllister and Hugh Lawson)
Straits Times
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Kosovo in political stalemate as parliament fails to elect speaker
Albulena Haxhiu, nominee of the Self-Determination party for the speaker of the parliament, leaves the plenary session, in Pristina, Kosovo April 25, 2025. REUTERS/Valdrin Xhemaj Outgoing Prime minister of the Republic of Kosovo Albin Kurti arrives for the plenary session to elect the new speaker of the parliament in Pristina, Kosovo April 25, 2025. REUTERS/Valdrin Xhemaj Lawmakers gather for the plenary session to elect the new speaker of the parliament in Pristina, Kosovo April 25, 2025. REUTERS/Valdrin Xhemaj PRISTINA - Kosovo's parliament failed to elect a new speaker for the fourth time on Friday, prolonging a legislative crisis that has prevented efforts to form a new government more than two months after an inconclusive election. Under Kosovo's constitution, a parliamentary speaker must be voted in before the election winner can form a government, but without cross-party support that is proving difficult, and the stalemate has exposed deep divisions in Europe's newest state. In the February 9 parliamentary election, following an acrimonious campaign in which outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti called the opposition "animals" and "thieves", his Vetevendosje party came first but did not secure an outright majority. Opposition parties, who have said they will not enter a coalition with Vetevendosje, partly blame Kurti for escalating the tensions in the country's Serb-majority north that have hobbled Kosovo's chances of joining the EU and triggered sanctions from the bloc. The fractured political scene could result in a snap election later this year if no government can be formed. Kurti's nominee for speaker, outgoing justice minister Albulena Haxhiu, received 57 votes on Friday, unchanged from previous votes and short of a required majority of 61 seats. Parliament must meet again in 48 hours to hold another vote. Opposition parties have asked Kurti to change the candidate if he wants their support. "There is no will from political parties to constitute the parliament," Haxhiu said after the vote. By law, parliament must continue to meet until a speaker is voted in. After that the country's president will give Kurti's party a mandate to form a new ruling coalition. If Kurti fails, the mandate will be handed to the second-placed Democratic Party of Kosovo and, if they do not succeed, the third-placed Democratic League of Kosovo party. If all efforts fail, the president can call snap elections - an outcome many analysts expect. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
