Pristina, June 30 2025 – The Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo is the highest representative institution and the cornerstone of parliamentary democracy. Through it, other state institution are established and the constitutional principles of separation and checks and balances are guaranteed. For more than two and a half months, the country has lacked a constituted Parliament. This institutional vacuum has blocked the adoption of laws, the democratic oversight of the Government and the handling of urgent issues affecting citizens’ lives.
Constitutional court ruling restores procedural clarity
In this context, the Conditional Court’s ruling of June 26, 2025 (Case KO124/25) was a necessary intervention to clarify procedural ambiguities and to define the constitutional limits and rules for constituting the Assembly. The Court reaffirmed that this procedure is mandated by the Constitution, the Assembly’s rules of procedure and long-established parliamentary practices and any deviation constituted a violation of the constitutional order.
The Court emphasized that the winning party in the elections has the right to propose the candidate for Assembly Speaker, but this right is not absolute—it is closely linked to the obligation to build a majority through cooperation with other parliamentary groups.
Deviations by the chair and political instrumentalization
The meeting on April 8, 2025, between the Speaker of the previous legislature and political party representatives, served as the basis for preparing the constitutive session. It clearly set the agenda and did not provide for a secret ballot. Any action contrary to this agreement is unconstitutional and violates the principles of mutual trust and parliamentary practice.
However, Mr. Avni Dehari, as Chair of the session, deviated from the agreed order, delayed procedures, proposed a commission for a secret ballot without legal basis, and allowed its composition without adequate representation of other parliamentary parties. This constituted an unacceptable interference in the Assembly’s constitution process and undermined the principle of fair parliamentary representation, turning the process into a one-sided, non-consensual act.
Through his actions, Mr. Dehari did not facilitate the democratic process but became an instrument of the blockade. He violated the principle of neutrality required of the Chair in a constitutive session.
Democratic standards cannot be compromised
The Constitutional Court stressed that the Assembly must complete the constitution process within a 30-day deadline. It also clarified that the vote for Speaker must be open, as in every other constitutive session to date. Any attempt to impose a secret vote unilaterally sets an unacceptable precedent and undermines the integrity of the process.
Furthermore, comparing the Speaker vote to that of the Deputy Speakers is unfounded. Rules for Deputy Speakers are based on political and ethnic representation, while electing the Speaker is an act of political will that requires consensus and agreement.
The Court made it clear that both the winning party and other parties must cooperate in good faith to elect the Speaker. Violating this principle breaches the spirit of the Constitution.
The blockade deepens
On June 28, 2025, during the continuation of the constitutive session, the Constitutional Court’s ruling was blatantly violated. Through the instrumentalization of the Chair, the Vetëvendosje Movement is not only refusing cooperation but deliberately dragging out the process to impose a unilateral solution—an act directly against the Constitution.
There have now been 39 failed attempts to elect the Assembly Speaker—39 sessions turned into arenas of procedural manipulation and narrow partisan and personal interests due to an obstructionist approach. Deputies are denied the right to perform their functions, while citizens remain without functional representation.
Call for responsibility and restoration of functionality
The Assembly belongs to no one. It cannot be held hostage by the will of a single political entity. Democracy requires functionality, respect for procedures, and a willingness to compromise.
We call on all political parties, especially the winning party, to fulfill their constitutional obligations and unblock the process. The Assembly must return to full function—to pass laws, oversee the government, and represent citizens’ interests.
Supporting organizations (alphabetical order)
Advocacy Training & Resource Center (ATRC)
Association of Independent Electronic Media of Kosovo (AMPEK)
Balkan Green Foundation (BGF)
CEL Kosova
Center for Education and Community Development – Friends
Community Building Mitrovica (CBM)
Community Development Fund (CDF)
Democracy Plus (D+)
Democracy for Development (D4D)
Lumbardhi Foundation
Kosovo Humanitarian Law Fund
Forum for Civic Initiatives (FIQ)
GERMIN
Balkan Policy Research Group (BPRG)
Hyjneshat
Initiative for Progress (INPO)
Democratic Institute of Kosovo (KDI)
Edutask Institute
Kosovo Law Institute (KLI)
Pristina Institute for Political Studies (PIPS)
Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED)
Musine Kokalari Institute for Social Policy
Institute for Development Policy (INDEP)
Sekhmet Institute
Coalition of NGOs for the Protection of Children – KOMF
Kosovar Youth Council
K-W4W
Leadership Development Association Europe
Movement FOL
New Social Initiative (NSI)
NGO AKTIV
Youth Initiative for Human Rights – Kosovo
NGO Activism Roots
NGO EC Ma Ndryshe
NGO EcoZ
NGO Gjethi
NGO Politeia
NGO PONTIS
NGO Pishtarët
Organization ÇOHU!
Kosovo Center for Rehabilitation of Torture Survivors (KRCT)
Kosovo Center for Gender Studies (QKSGJ)
Center for Advocacy and Democratic Culture (ACDC)
Center for Policy and Advocacy (QPA)
Center for Social Group Development – CSGD
Social Center SWOK Kosovo
QIKA
Kosovo Women’s Network (RrGK)
AVONET NGO Network
Qeliza Network
SHL – Kosovo
Syri i Vizionit