Kosovo PM Pushes For Snap Elections in June

Amid continuing uncertainties over the date of national elections in Kosovo, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has proposed June 8 as a potential option.

He made his proposal on Friday to the President, Atifete Jahjaga, at a meeting held at the presidency building in Pristina.

Thaci’s Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, came top in the last national elections held in 2010, winning some 32 per cent of the vote and 33 of the 120 seats in parliament.

It has since maintained a slim governing coalition with the New Kosovo Alliance, AKR, the party of construction tycoon Behgjet Pacolli, and some smaller minority parties.

Apart from the nationalistic Vetevendosje Movement, which wants elections held in autumn, the other opposition parties, the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK, have all backed elections being held in June.

However, before national elections can be held, Kosovo must resolve a deadlock on two crucial issues: the transformation of the Kosovo Security Forces into the Kosovo Armed Forces and reserved seats for ethnic minorities in parliament.

Serbian parties in parliament have conditioned their support for a vote on the Kosovo Armed Forces with the maintenance of reserved seats for minorities.

The vote on the Kosovo Armed Forces is due to be held next week in parliament.

Under the constitution, Jahjaga has to set a date for elections after consultations with all the political parties in the country.