The Specialist Chambers and the president set the parties on a collision course, only hours remain until the constitutional deadline closes

The Assembly of Kosovo approved on Monday, with 91 votes in favour, none against and no abstentions, in first reading, the Draft Law on amending the Law on the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office.

The changes, however, do not foresee the dissolution of the Specialist Court and do not stop the appeal procedures for the former KLA leaders convicted at first instance.

After the vote, PDK demanded that the second reading take place the same Monday at 17:30.

This was opposed by the Speaker of the Assembly, Albulena Haxhiu, who first demanded agreement on the election of the president, stressing that the election of the head of state is an urgent matter. The session ended without the second vote taking place.

PDK MP Vlora Çitaku said that her party does not negotiate over the law and demanded that the MPs return to the Assembly to approve it in second reading.

Meanwhile, the protest in front of the Assembly, which has been held for days in support of the legal changes, grew tense during the evening.

The protesters threw pyrotechnic devices in the direction of the Assembly and the Police, while the Police used tear gas to disperse the crowds. In some squares of Pristina there were clashes and the blocking of roads around the Assembly.

The protesters demanded that the changes be approved also in second reading and declared that they will not leave without the process being completed.

The multi-hour protest near the Assembly ended around half an hour before midnight on Monday.

Police: Six officers injured and three protesters escorted after the clashes in Pristina

Kosovo Police announced the developments during the protest held on Monday evening near the state institutions in Pristina, where, according to it, incidents and clashes between protesters and police officers were recorded.

According to the Police, during the protest some participants threw pyrotechnic devices, fireworks and hard objects in the direction of the buildings of the Government and of the Assembly of Kosovo.

Because of the situation, the Police says it intervened several times to prevent escalation, using police equipment, including tear gas and a water cannon, to disperse the crowd.

“Kosovo Police, in order to bring the situation under control and to prevent a further escalation of the situation, has been forced several times to act against protesters who displayed violence,” the Police announcement states.

Because of the situation created, at different time intervals vehicle traffic was also stopped on several roads around the centre of Pristina.

The Police announced that three people were escorted to a police station, for failing to respect the calls for calm and on suspicion of acts contrary to the law.

The failed Kurti–Hamza meeting

A meeting between Kosovo’s prime minister and leader of the Vetëvendosje Movement, Albin Kurti, and the leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Bedri Hamza, has ended without result.

The parties have not reached agreement on the issue of the changes to the law on the Specialist Chambers and on the election of the new president of Kosovo.

LVV demands that, before going to the second reading, the Assembly elect the country’s new president, knowing that the constitutional deadline for this ends tomorrow, 6 October.

PDK insists that the changes to this law pass first and that the president be elected afterwards. On the other hand, the issue of the president remains linked to the constitutional deadline of 6 October. If the Assembly does not manage to elect the president by then, the dissolution of the Assembly and the holding of new elections are expected.

LVV turns its eyes to LDK for the President

The leader of the Guxo Party, Faton Peci, has called on the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) for reflection and joint engagement, in order to overcome the current political situation.

Peci, through a post on Facebook, said that only 24 hours remain for the election of the president of Kosovo.

“Seeing the current events and bearing in mind that we have only 24 hours left to elect the President of Kosovo, as Leader of the Guxo Party I call on LDK for reflection and joint engagement in order to overcome this situation,” Peci wrote.

According to him, the election of the president would contribute to the completion of the country’s high institutions and to the creation of institutional stability, as Telegrafi reports.