Kosovo's Acting President: Elections To Be Held In 2011

October 05, 2010

PRISTINA -- Acting Kosovar President Jakup Krasniqi says most Kosovar political parties are opposed to holding early elections this year, RFE/RL's Balkan Service reports.

Krasniqi said on October 4 that the date for early elections will be announced soon and will be based on the constitution.

"We have had the best possible consultations [with political leaders] and I have not noticed any disagreement," Krasniqi said. "Almost all leaders of political parties are not willing to hold the elections [in 2010]. They agree with the scenario of early elections, but within six months as is foreseen by the constitution."

Fatmir Sejdiu resigned as Kosovo's president on September 27 after the Constitutional Court ruled that he had "seriously violated" the constitution by leading the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) while president.

The court said Kosovo's constitution does not allow the president of the country to hold a second political post.

Krasniqi emphasized that the coalition government was continuing to work as usual and was committed to leading the country until the early elections. Kosovar Prime Minister Hashim Thaci backed Krasniqi's position, saying that "future steps will be based on the constitution."

Kosovo's coalition government came to power after elections in 2007. The president -- who is elected by a vote in parliament -- was proposed by the LDK, the junior partner in the coalition. The main partner, the Kosovo Democratic Party, holds the posts of prime minister, parliament speaker, and a majority of the ministries.

Kosovo declared independence in February 2008 and has been recognized by 70 countries.

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http://www.rferl.org/content/Kosovos_Acting_President_Elections_To_Be_Held_In_2011/2177261.html

* Jakup Krasniqi (Serbo-Croatian: Jakup Krasnići) (born 1 January 1951) is an Albanian politician. He is the Chairman of the Assembly of Kosovo and currently the acting President of the Republic of Kosovo.

Early life: Krasniqi was born in Negrofc, Glogovac, SFR Yugoslavia (present-day Kosovo) to Albanian parents.[1] He finished elementary school in his birthplace, Negrofc, in 1965 while he finished high school in Pristina in 1971.[1] He attended the Faculty of Philology of the University of Pristina and graduated in 1976.[1]

Political career: During the Kosovo War, he was the spokesman of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UÇK).[1]As of 28 September 2010, Jakup Krasniqi is the acting President of Kosovo, following the resignation of Fatmir Sejdiu.[2]

Krasniqi is married and has four children, 3 daughters and a son.[1]