Constitutional court topples Hoti's government, Pristina has 40 days to hold new elections

Third parliamentary elections in three years are the result of a complaint filed by the Self-Determination Movement back in July, claiming that the government of Avdullah Hoti received support in parliament thanks to the vote of Etem Arifi, who was convicted of corruption at the time

The Constitutional Court in Pristina toppled the government of Avdullah Hoti last night, because the act of voting by which his cabinet received the support of the parliament was declared unconstitutional. According to the court's decision, new elections have been ordered, and Vjosa Osmani will begin consultations on Tuesday.

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New, early elections must be held no later than 40 days after the announcement, because the government of Avdullah Hoti received the support in the parliament thanks to an unconstitutional vote, the Kosovo Constitutional Court announced.

Announcing the decision, the court said that Etem Arifi's parliamentary mandate had been confirmed, although he had been sentenced to one year and three months in prison a few months earlier.

The government of Avdullah Hoti received the support of 61 members of parliament in the second attempt, but after the Constitutional Court declared the key vote null and void, the president of the temporary institutions was ordered to call new elections.

Third parliamentary elections in three years are the result of a complaint filed by the Self-Determination Movement back in July, claiming that the government of Avdullah Hoti received support in parliament thanks to the vote of Etem Arifi, who was convicted of corruption at the time.

Early elections are to be called by acting Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani.

Her associate Agnes Vitia posted that it is now known from whose office the decision should be made, along with a photo of Vjosa Osmani with associates.

The vice-president of the Kosovo Assembly from the ranks of the Self-Determination movement, Arberia Nagavci, said after the court's decision that is is clear there will be new elections and "that the legitimate government will return to power."

"The decision of the court confirms what we have said several times, that the government of Hoti was illegal. It is clear that we will have new elections soon and that the legitimate government of Albin Kurti will return to power," Nagavci wrote.

Parliament members from the Self-Determination Movement also reacted, expecting to win a majority of seats in the future assembly.

Deputy Fitim Uka said that "a strange winter is coming, with temperatures plus 51 degrees," alluding that they can win more than half the seats.

Leader of the Alliance New Kosovo Behgjet Pacolli assessed that "these are the most politically challenging times in Kosovo, and that now we need maturity and respect for today's decision to go to the polls in January."

"I call on all parties to run with a vision that makes Kosovo better than it is today, and not with hatred and dissatisfaction. We need clarity, prosperity and stability for Kosovo now more than ever," Pacolli wrote in response.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)