From: Exit News
Kosovo Court Dismisses Case Alleging President’s Unconstitutional Interference in Government Formation

The Constitutional Court of Kosovo has dismissed a case filed by the largest party, Vetevendosoje, asking it to rule on the constitutionality of former President Hashim Thaci’s actions before the parliamentary vote on the Hoti government.

In June 2020, 30 MPs of Vetevendosje asked the court whether Thaci’s visit to MP Haxhi Shala’s home in early morning hours on the day of the vote had violated the constitutional obligation of the President.   

In their ruling on Wednesday, the Constitutional Court did not elaborate on the dismissal of the case.   

Shala had announced his vote against the government, but later said that the President had changed his mind during the visit. The MP voted for the government on the same day, and his vote was crucial. The government passed the parliamentary vote with 61 votes; one less would have been a failure.

The same court later found the vote unconstitutional due to the vote of another MP who was sentenced to prison at that time.

Thaci admitted he visited Shala’s family after midnight, on June 3, and persuaded the MP to change his vote in favor of the new government.

The President later appointed Shala’s son Kosovo’s Consul General to Prague, but his decision was repealed after Thaci went to The Hague to face war crime charges against him.