PRISTINA – Justina Shiroka-Pula was elected President of Kosovo with 81 votes in the parliament last night, three minutes after the deadline set by the Constitutional Court for the election of the President expired. Shiroka-Pula was one of the two candidates in the final vote, along with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP Eliza Hoxha, it was reported by FoNet.
After the vote, Shiroka-Pula took an oath before the Assembly. In a short address, she said that she would be the president of all citizens and that she would work on unity, justice, development and strengthening of institutions, as well as on Euro-Atlantic integration.
“I will be president of all citizens. I will work for unity, justice, development and strengthening of our institutions. Kosovo must move forward as a democratic, secure state with a clear Euro-Atlantic orientation and strong friendship with our allies”, she stated.
Shiroka-Pula stressed that she would protect “the Constitution, the interests of the Republic and the dignity of the citizens”.
The election of the president was preceded by a multi-hour political blockade. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Albin Kurti repeatedly changed the proposals for breaking of the political deadlock, and last night he proposed Shiroka-Pula, President of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo.
PDK leader Bedri Hamza announced at around 11 p.m. that Shiroka-Pula is acceptable for the party and that all 22 PDK MPs will take part in the session. At the same time, PDK proposed Eliza Hoxha as her opponent. The session was then joined by the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) as well.
Before the election of the president, the Assembly adopted amendments to the law on Specialist Councils in an accelerated procedure.
The voting for the president began before midnight, but ended at 00.03, while the counting of votes ended at 00.14. The Constitutional Court previously determined that the 60-day deadline for the election of the president, which began on 8 August and expired at midnight on 6 October.
Had the president not been elected, the Assembly would have been dissolved and new parliamentary elections held within 45 days. Former President of the Constitutional Court and Professor of constitutional law Enver Hasani told Kosova.Pres that the fact that the vote was completed a few minutes after midnight does not constitute a constitutional problem, because the procedure was started within the deadline.
“The process started on time. Counting and declaring the results, even if they take a few minutes after the deadline, is not a constitutional issue,” Hasani clarified.
Koha ditore reported that Justina Shiroka-Pula served as Minister of Energy and Mining in the Government of Kosovo from 2008 to 2011, and was a member of the Assembly of Kosovo from the ranks of the PDK from 2011 to 2014.
