Sep 27th 2010, 15:41 by T.J.
FATMIR SEJDIU (pictured), Kosovo's president, has resigned, following a ruling by the constitutional court that he could not simultaneously hold the offices of the presidency and the leadership of his Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) party. Until a new president is elected by parliament, the position will be held by Jakup Krasniqi, the parliamentary speaker.
Mr Sejdiu’s resignation—which comes as a surprise, despite the court’s decision—will not change Kosovo’s political landscape overnight. But it could have significant effects in the long term. In Kosovo real power lies with the prime minister, and Mr Sejdiu may have proved willing to resign precisely because he has that job in mind.
Next year Kosovo will hold elections. But next month, at an LDK conference, Mr Sejdiu must see off a challenge to his leadership of the party from Bujar Bukoshi, Kosovo’s prime minister-in-exile during the 1990s. Mr Sejdiu may be calculating that if he can see off Mr Bukoshi, he will be well placed to take on Hashim Thaci, Kosovo's prime minister, next year.
Mr Sejdiu's prospects have been boosted by the fate of Ramush Haradinaj, the leader of Kosovo’s main opposition party. In July Mr Haradinaj was rearrested, on the orders of the UN’s war-crimes tribunal in The Hague, for war crimes of which he had been acquitted in 2008. The court deemed that the previous trial had been marred by witness intimidation. Mr Haradinaj's imprisonment has enfeebled his party, leaving the way open for Mr Sejdiu to scoop up the votes of those fed up with Mr Thaci.
Indeed, says Engjellushe Morina, head of the Kosovar Stability Initiative, today may mark the end of the political security the prime minister has enjoyed since Mr Haradinaj's rearrest. “The ground has begun to tremble beneath his feet,” she says.
the economist, eastern approaches
http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2010/09/kosovos_president_resigns
FATMIR SEJDIU (pictured), Kosovo's president, has resigned, following a ruling by the constitutional court that he could not simultaneously hold the offices of the presidency and the leadership of his Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) party. Until a new president is elected by parliament, the position will be held by Jakup Krasniqi, the parliamentary speaker.
Mr Sejdiu’s resignation—which comes as a surprise, despite the court’s decision—will not change Kosovo’s political landscape overnight. But it could have significant effects in the long term. In Kosovo real power lies with the prime minister, and Mr Sejdiu may have proved willing to resign precisely because he has that job in mind.
Next year Kosovo will hold elections. But next month, at an LDK conference, Mr Sejdiu must see off a challenge to his leadership of the party from Bujar Bukoshi, Kosovo’s prime minister-in-exile during the 1990s. Mr Sejdiu may be calculating that if he can see off Mr Bukoshi, he will be well placed to take on Hashim Thaci, Kosovo's prime minister, next year.
Mr Sejdiu's prospects have been boosted by the fate of Ramush Haradinaj, the leader of Kosovo’s main opposition party. In July Mr Haradinaj was rearrested, on the orders of the UN’s war-crimes tribunal in The Hague, for war crimes of which he had been acquitted in 2008. The court deemed that the previous trial had been marred by witness intimidation. Mr Haradinaj's imprisonment has enfeebled his party, leaving the way open for Mr Sejdiu to scoop up the votes of those fed up with Mr Thaci.
Indeed, says Engjellushe Morina, head of the Kosovar Stability Initiative, today may mark the end of the political security the prime minister has enjoyed since Mr Haradinaj's rearrest. “The ground has begun to tremble beneath his feet,” she says.
the economist, eastern approaches
http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2010/09/kosovos_president_resigns
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