2014 Kosovan parliamentary election explained

Election Name:2014 Kosovan parliamentary election
Country:Kosovo
Previous Election:2010
Next Election:2017
Election Date:8 June 2014
Party1:Democratic Party of Kosovo
Last Election1:34
Seats1:37
Percentage1:30.38
Party2:Democratic League of Kosovo
Last Election2:27
Seats2:30
Percentage2:25.24
Party3:Vetëvendosje
Last Election3:14
Seats3:16
Percentage3:13.59
Party4:Alliance for the Future of Kosovo
Last Election4:12
Seats4:11
Percentage4:9.54
Party5:Serb List (Kosovo)
Last Election5:New
Seats5:9
Percentage5:5.22
Last Election6:New
Seats6:6
Percentage6:5.15
Last Election7:3
Seats7:2
Percentage7:1.02
Last Election8:2
Seats8:2
Percentage8:0.89
Party9:Progressive Democratic Party (Kosovo)
Last Election9:New
Seats9:1
Percentage9:0.82
Last Election10:1
Seats10:1
Percentage10:0.46
Last Election11:1
Seats11:1
Percentage11:0.39
Last Election12:New
Seats12:1
Percentage12:0.27
Last Election13:1
Seats13:1
Percentage13:0.22
Last Election14:New
Seats14:1
Percentage14:0.16
Last Election15:New
Seats15:1
Percentage15:0.09
Prime Minister
Before Election:Hashim Thaçi
Before Party:Democratic Party of Kosovo
After Election:Isa Mustafa
After Party:Democratic League of Kosovo

Parliamentary elections were held in Kosovo on 8 June 2014, after incumbent Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi announced his intention to hold elections.[1]

On 7 May, the Assembly was dissolved and President Atifete Jahjaga confirmed the Election date as 8 June 2014.[2]

Aftermath

Foreign media viewed the election results as "inconclusive".[3] [4] According to the Constitution, "If no one challenges the election results within 24 hours, parliament will have 30 days to convene. The prime minister-designate will then have 15 days to form a government that has the backing of a majority of deputies."[5] Incumbent Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and the PDK were expected to be the first to form government, having won a plurality of the seats in the election. However, an opposition coalition of the LDK, AAK, and NISMA sought to form a governing coalition, arguing that together they could form a majority of the seats in parliament.[5]

When parliament resumed in July, the opposition coalition attempted to elect LDK leader Isa Mustafa as Speaker of Parliament, but only after a member of Thaci's party had walked out of the vote.[6]

This constitutional crisis dragged on for several months, until the PDK formed a governing coalition with the LDK. Under the agreement, LDK leader Isa Mustafa would become Prime Minister, while Thaci would be Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.[4]

Parliamentary struggles continued for Kosovo after the government was formed. Vetëvendosje, an opposition party staunchly opposed to the 2013 Brussels Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, vowed that "no session will be held until the government renounces a deal with Serbia that gives greater rights to Serbs living in northern Kosovo."[7] Opposition members of parliament set off nine smoke bombs in the parliamentary chambers over a period of six months.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tota. Elton. Parliamentary elections in Kosovo to be held on June 8. Independent Balkan News Agency. 2 May 2014.
  2. Web site: Kosovo to hold parliamentary polls on 8 June 2014. IANS. news.biharprabha.com. 9 May 2014.
  3. Web site: Kosovo profile - Timeline - BBC News. BBC News. 8 April 2016. en-GB.
  4. News: Coalition deal ends stalemate in Kosovo. 8 April 2016. euronews. 8 December 2014.
  5. News: Bytyci. Fatos. Kosovo takes first step to resolve constitutional crisis, form government. 8 April 2016. Reuters UK. Reuters. 26 June 2014. en-GB.
  6. News: Robinson. Matt. Kosovo lawmakers struggle for control of parliament. 8 April 2016. Reuters UK. Reuters. 17 July 2014. en-GB.
  7. News: Watch: dramatic scenes as MP sets off smoke bomb in Kosovo parliament. 8 April 2016. euronews. euronews. 15 December 2014.
  8. News: Kosovo: opposition MPs fire tear gas in ninth parliament attack in six months. 8 April 2016. euronews. euronews. 10 March 2016.