Kosovo Leaders Tussle Over Plan to Form New Govt

"Next week I'll take the final constitutional steps to enable the formation of a new government with full legitimacy from parliament, capable of fighting COVID-19 and serving the people," the President tweeted. 

Indicating what he wished this new government to do, he added that the tariffs imposed on Serbian imports, much criticised by the US and EU, "need to be dropped in order to strengthen US and EU support for Kosovo". 

Kurti's Vetevendosje party - which wants new elections as soon as possible, rather than a new government formed out of the existing constellation of parties in parliament - condemned the announcement.

"There will not be a new government. Thaci's plan violates the constitution and is aimed at bringing back [to power] the parties that will enable him to push forward his deals with [Serbian President Aleksandar] Vucic," deputy leader Arberie Nagavci said.

Kurti and his party have long accused the former ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK - which Thaci once led - of hatching a plot with Vucic to partition Kosovo on ethnic lines, in exchange for Serbia recognising the independence of its former province.

Thaci's announcement comes after a series of tense letters was exchanged with Kurti, whose party, as it has most seats in parliament, first received a mandate to form the new government.

Last week, the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, its junior partner in government signalled its readiness to form a new government if and when it gets a mandate from President Thaci.

After triggering and then winning a no-confidence motion against Kurti, the LDK leader, Isa Mustafa, has turned his attention to a range of smaller parties in parliament as potential coalition allies.

These are the Alliance for the...