Presidential powers case: Haxhiu turns to the Constitutional Court

Kosovo’s acting president, Albulena Haxhiu, has turned to the Constitutional Court to request an interpretation regarding the exercise of presidential powers after the end of her six-month term, in case the Assembly fails to elect the new president.

The Presidency’s office confirmed this to Telegrafi, while it is said that Haxhiu has asked for a determination of how and by whom the necessary presidential powers are exercised after the end of the six-month period, when the new President has not yet been elected.

“President Haxhiu has turned to the Constitutional Court, on the basis of Article 113, paragraph 3, sub-paragraph 1, of the Constitution. We have requested that it be determined how and by whom the necessary presidential powers are exercised after the end of the six-month period, when the new President has not yet been elected,” the Presidency’s response to Telegrafi says.

The Presidency further emphasises that the Constitution grants the president the right to announce early parliamentary elections.

“The Constitution grants this power to the President. Determining the authority that can exercise it in the circumstances created is one of the main questions we have put to the Court,” it says, among other things.

The Presidency also stresses that the constitutional provisions must be interpreted in interconnection, so that the expiry of a deadline does not make it impossible to fulfil other constitutional obligations.

“To determine the solution that guarantees this continuity within the constitutional order, we have turned to the Constitutional Court,” the response says.