Elected president of Kosovo — who will replace Justina Shiroka-Pula at the head of the Academy of Sciences and Arts?

Justina Shiroka-Pula was elected president of Kosovo shortly before midnight on 06.10.2026. She officially took office on 07.10.2026 after a solemn inauguration ceremony.

Until now, Justina Shiroka-Pula has held the post of president of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo (ASHAK).

She was elected to the head of the Academy on 19.12.2025 during a regular meeting of the ASHAK Assembly.

Justina Shiroka-Pula’s election to the post of president of Kosovo has left ASHAK without a president, since, according to the Law and the Statute for this institution, members of the Academy who exercise political and state functions cannot exercise leading functions in ASHAK.

How do the Law and the Statute provide for the election of the new president?

After Justina Shiroka-Pula’s appointment to the post of president of the country, the Academy must elect the new president.

The ASHAK Presidency will announce the elections for president and call the electoral session at least 30 days in advance. After that, two meetings of the Academy’s sections will be held.

At the first meeting the candidates are proposed, while at the second meeting the proposed candidates are voted on.

The candidate or candidates who receive the necessary number of votes are sent to the Assembly of the Academy for a final vote.

The candidate who receives the most votes is elected to the head of ASHAK.

The new president, who replaces academician Shiroka-Pula, will have a mandate until the regular elections for the ASHAK presidency, which as a rule are held at the end of 2029.

KALLXO.com was unable to obtain a statement from the Academy by the time of publication of the article regarding the issue of electing its new president.

The last regular elections at the Academy were held on 19.12.2025 by the Assembly of this institution.

Justina Shiroka-Pula was elected president, while Fejzullah Krasniqi was elected vice-president and Bardh Rugova was elected scientific secretary.

According to Law no. 05/L-038 on ASHAK, article 17, point 1.4, the president of the Academy is elected by the Assembly of the Academy for a four-year period, with the right to re-election for another mandate.

The Law bars the president of ASHAK from holding political and state posts.

“Members of the Academy who exercise political and state functions cannot exercise leading functions in the Academy,” states article 16, point 6 of this Law.

Meanwhile, according to the ASHAK Statute, article 33, the president of the Academy is elected from among its regular members and is accountable for his work to the Assembly of the Academy, while within the rights and duties of the Presidency of the Academy, he is accountable to the Presidency, as KALLXO.com reports.