Kosovo President: Kurti Must Nominate PM or Risk Crisis

President Hashim Thaci has urged election-winning party Vetevendosje to nominate Kosovo's next Prime Minister within 48 hours, or risk sending the country into a "completely unnecessary" constitutional crisis.

Kosovo "is now running very late in government formation," Thaci said in a Twitter post after a brief meeting with Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti on Monday afternoon ended again without the latter putting forward a name.

He added: "I hope Mr. Kurti within 48 hours may be able to nominate a candidate for  PM, since the people, the parliament, our allies are expecting him to do so.

"He may seek further delay, but to great disappointment of the people of Kosovo and risk of completely unnecessary constitutional crisis."

Kurti has twice declined Thaci's invitation to propose a new Prime Minister, on December 27, and this Monday, January 6.

After their meeting on Monday, which lasted only a few minutes, Kurti fought for more time, saying that while Thaci had demanded a proposal, "under the constitution, this must be done in a written request."

"I will discuss this with the presidency of the Vetevendosje Movement, and we will send the Vetevendosje proposal in writing," Kurti added.

Vetevendosje is likely to propose Kurti himself as the future PM, who, after being nominated by the President, would then have 15 days to propose a new government. This must win a majority of votes in parliament.

Exactly three months since elections took place, Vetevendosje and the second-place holder, the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, have failed to agree on a governing coalition.

In a video published on Facebook earlier on Monday, Kurti named who he wanted as five ministers and the second vice-PM from his party's ranks if a...