The Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo (Albanian: Kryetari i Kuvendit të Kosovës,[b] or Kryeparlamentari i Kosovës,[c] Serbian: Председник Скупштине Косова, romanized: Predsednik Skupštine Kosova) is the presiding officer of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, elected by the parliament during the opening session. The position also ranks first in the presidential line of succession.
| Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo | |
|---|---|
| Kryetari i Kuvendit të Kosovës | |
 | |
| Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo | |
| Nominator | The party that has the majority in parliament |
| Term length | Elected by the Assembly at the start of each legislature, and upon a vacancy |
| Inaugural holder | De jure: Bujar Gjurgjeala (acting) and Ilaz Ramajli De facto: Hans Hækkerup (acting) and Nexhat Daci |
| Formation | |
| Website | in Albanian in Serbian in English |
History
editThe office of the Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo was formally established on 10 December 2001. Before this date, Kosovo did not have an elected legislative body, and all executive and legislative powers were held by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and its head, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG).
The newly elected Assembly held its first constitutive session in Pristina on 10 December 2001. Because the Assembly did not yet have its own rules of procedure, SRSG Hans Hækkerup served as the temporary Speaker and Chairperson. He officially opened the session, verified the mandates of the 120 elected deputies, administered their oaths of office, and legally established the legislature. Only after these procedural steps did the deputies elect their first permanent President of the Assembly: Nexhat Daci of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK).[1][2]
Between 2001 and 2008, the President of the Assembly operated under the UNMIK Constitutional Framework. During this period, the position was important but its real powers were limited. The Assembly could only pass laws in specific administrative areas, while key sectors like security, justice, and foreign affairs remained under the direct control of the SRSG, who could also veto laws or dissolve the Assembly if necessary.[3] However, the President of the Assembly did hold one major sovereign responsibility: serving as the acting President of Kosovo if the head of state died, resigned, or became incapacitated. This occurred in January 2006, when Nexhat Daci served as acting President following the death of Ibrahim Rugova.[4]
The role changed significantly on 17 February 2008, when the Assembly declared independence. With the adoption of the Constitution of Kosovo later that year, UNMIK's supreme authority ended. The Assembly became the highest, fully sovereign legislative body of the new republic, transforming the President of the Assembly from a partially ceremonial role under international administration into one of the central state institutions.[5]
Duties and responsibilities
editToday, the President of the Assembly is a key democratic figure in the Republic of Kosovo. According to the Constitution (Article 67) and the Assembly's Rules of Procedure, the President is responsible for leading the legislative branch, ensuring the democratic process, and representing the institution both domestically and internationally.
The core duties and powers of the President of the Assembly include:[6][7]
- Representing the Assembly: Acting as the primary voice and official representative of the legislature in relations with other state institutions and foreign dignitaries.
- Managing sessions: Convening and chairing the plenary sessions of the Assembly, maintaining parliamentary order, and presiding over the meetings of the Presidency of the Assembly.
- Setting the agenda: Determining the legislative work program and proposing the agenda for parliamentary sessions, in coordination with the Assembly's Presidency.
- Signing legislation: Formally signing all laws, resolutions, and decisions adopted by the deputies before they are forwarded to the President of Kosovo for official promulgation.
- Presidential succession: Serving as the acting President of Kosovo for a period of up to six months in the event that the sitting President is temporarily unable to fulfill their duties, resigns, or is dismissed.
Through these powers, the President of the Assembly plays a critical role in maintaining the separation of powers, ensuring transparent lawmaking, and guaranteeing institutional stability in the country.
Officeholders
editSpeaker
edit| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Political party | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||
| Republic of Kosova | ||||||||
| Act. |  |
Bujar Gjurgjeala (1946–2018) |
2 July 1990 | 7 September 1990 | 67 days | Independent | ||
| 1 | |
Ilaz Ramajli (born 1951) |
7 September 1990 | 25 May 1992 | 1 year, 261 days | Democratic League | ||
| — | |
Vacant[d] | 25 May 1992 | 10 December 2001 | 9 years, 199 days | Democratic League | ||
| UN-administered Kosovo | ||||||||
| Act. |  |
Hans Hækkerup (1945–2013) |
10 December 2001 | 0 days | Independent | |||
| 2 |  |
Nexhat Daci (1944–2026) .svg){kind=small} |
10 December 2001 | 10 March 2006 | 4 years, 90 days | Democratic League | ||
| 3 |  |
Kolë Berisha (1947–2021) .svg){kind=small} |
10 March 2006 | 12 December 2007 | 1 year, 277 days | Democratic League | ||
| 4 | .jpg) |
Jakup Krasniqi (born 1951) .svg){kind=small} |
12 December 2007 | 17 February 2008 | 68 days | Democratic Party | ||
| Republic of Kosovo | ||||||||
| (4) | |
Jakup Krasniqi (born 1951) |
17 February 2008 | 17 July 2014 | 6 years, 150 days | Democratic Party (until 2014) | ||
| (4) | Social Democratic Initiative (from 2014) | |||||||
| 5 |  |
Kadri Veseli (born 1966) .svg){kind=small} |
8 December 2014 | 3 August 2017 | 2 years, 238 days | Democratic Party | ||
| 7 September 2017 | 26 December 2019 | 2 years, 110 days | ||||||
| 6 |  |
Glauk Konjufca (born 1981) .svg){kind=small} |
26 December 2019 | 3 February 2020 | 39 days | Vetëvendosje | ||
| 7 | .jpg) |
Vjosa Osmani (born 1982) .svg){kind=small} |
3 February 2020 | 22 March 2021 | 1 year, 47 days | Democratic League (until 2020) | ||
| (7) | Guxo (from 2020) | |||||||
| (6) | |
Glauk Konjufca (born 1981) |
22 March 2021 | 15 April 2025 | 4 years, 24 days | Vetëvendosje | ||
| 8 |  |
Dimal Basha (born 1979) |
26 August 2025 | 11 February 2026 | 169 days | Vetëvendosje | ||
| 9 |  |
Albulena Haxhiu (born 1987) .svg){kind=small} |
11 February 2026 | Incumbent | 118 days | Vetëvendosje | ||
Chairperson of the Constitutive Session
editChairperson of the Constitutive Session of the Assembly of Kosovo (Albanian: Kryesuesi i seancës konstituive të Kuvendit të Kosovës, Serbian: Председавајући конститутивне седнице Скупштине Косова, romanized: Predsedavajući konstitutivne sednice Skupštine Kosova) is the temporary presiding officer of the inaugural (constitutive) session of a newly elected Assembly of Kosovo.
The role is largely ceremonial and symbolic, representing both continuity (through the oldest member) and renewal (through the youngest member) in the democratic process. During the session the mandates of elected members are verified, oaths of office are taken, the temporary Presidency is formed, and the legislature is officially constituted. The chairperson and deputy serve only until the permanent Speaker (President) of the Assembly and deputy speakers are elected.[8]
The practice has evolved since the creation of the Assembly under UNMIK in 2001. The first elections for the Transitional Assembly were held on 17 November 2001 under UNMIK Regulation No. 2001/9 (Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-Government). The constitutive session on 10 December 2001 was initially chaired by the UNMIK Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Hans Hækkerup, acting as temporary chairman; the Assembly then elected its own permanent leadership (Nexhat Daci of the LDK became the first Speaker).[9][10]
In the second legislature (elections October 2004), the constitutive session of 3 December 2004 was chaired for the first time by the oldest elected member, academician Mark Krasniqi (aged 84), assisted by deputy Nekibe Kelmendi (LDK, aged 60). At that time the Rules of Procedure did not yet require the youngest member as deputy; the assistant was chosen pragmatically, often a senior or respected deputy from the same party.[11]
By the constitutive session of 4 January 2008 (still before Kosovo’s declaration of independence on 17 February 2008) the practice had changed. The oldest member, Mark Krasniqi, again chaired, but this time he was assisted by the youngest elected member, Njomza Emini (born 1983, aged 24). This “oldest + youngest” formula had become the accepted custom through amendments to the Rules of Procedure between 2005 and 2007 and has remained the standard ever since.[12]
After the declaration of independence and the adoption of the Constitution of Kosovo in 2008, the practice was formalized in the Rules of Procedure (versions of 2010 and 2022). The oldest member now chairs the inaugural session and is explicitly assisted by the youngest elected member. This tradition has been followed consistently since the 2008 legislature and symbolizes the transfer of power from one generation to the next.[13]
The role remains essential for ensuring constitutional and procedural legitimacy at the start of each legislative term, especially during periods of political deadlock when the election of the permanent Speaker can take weeks or months.
Political parties: PDK LDK Vetëvendosje KDTP SLS Independent
| Chairperson (Born-Died) Age during the Constitutive Session |
Deputy chairperson (Born-Died) Age during the Constitutive Session |
Term of office | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||
| UN-administered Kosovo | ||||||||
| - | |
Hans Hækkerup (1945–2013) As UNMIK SRSG, he was the first chairperson of the constitutive session. He presided alone (without a deputy chairperson) over the inaugural session of the Assembly of Kosovo, because the parliamentary rules requiring the oldest and youngest members had not yet been created.[e] |
10 December 2001 | 10 December 2001 | 0 days | |||
 |
Mark Krasniqi (1920–2015) 84 years old |
 |
Nekibe Kelmendi (1944–2011) 60 years old (assisted; not the youngest member – UNMIK-era practice did not require the youngest deputy) |
3 December 2004 | 3 December 2004 | 0 days | ||
|
Mark Krasniqi (1920–2015) 87 years old |
 |
Njomza Emini (born 1983) 24 years old |
4 January 2008 | 4 January 2008 | 0 days | ||
| Republic of Kosovo | ||||||||
 |
Flora Brovina (born 1949) ~62 years old .svg){kind=small} |
 |
Biserka Kostić (born ~1990s) |
21 February 2011 | 21 February 2011 | 0 days | ||
|
Flora Brovina (born 1949) 65 years old |
 |
Teuta Rugova (born 1990) 24 years old |
17 July 2014 | 8 December 2014 | 144 days | ||
.jpg) |
Adem Mikullovci (1937–2020) 79 years old .svg){kind=small} |
|
Teuta Rugova (born 1990) 26 years old |
3 August 2017 | 7 September 2017 | 35 days | ||
 |
Jahja Kokaj (born 1948) 71 years old |
 |
Fjolla Ujkani (born 1997) 22 years old |
26 December 2019 | 0 days | |||
 |
Avni Dehari (born 1947) 73 years old .svg){kind=small} |
 |
Adelina Grainca (born 1997) 23 years old |
22 March 2021 | 0 days | |||
|
Avni Dehari (born 1947) 78 years old |
|
Sala Jashari (born 1999) 26 years old |
15 April 2025 | 26 August 2025 | 133 days | ||
|
Avni Dehari (born 1947) 78 years old |
|
Fatma Taçi (born 2003) 22 years old |
11 February 2026 | 0 days | |||
References
edit- ↑ "Kosovo assembly marks historic day". CNN. 10 December 2001. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
- ↑ "Kosovo Assembly inauguration a 'milestone' on road to self-government". United Nations News. 10 December 2001. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
- ↑ "Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-Government in Kosovo" (PDF). Assembly of Kosovo. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
- ↑ "Kosovo: Rugova's Death Complicates Final-Status Process". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 21 January 2006. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
- ↑ "Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo". Retrieved 7 April 2026.
- ↑ "Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo (Chapter IV: Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo)". Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kosovo. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
- ↑ "Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of Kosovo" (PDF). Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
- ↑ "Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo" (PDF). Assembly of Kosovo. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
Until the election of the President of the Assembly, the inaugural session shall be chaired by the oldest Member of the Assembly, assisted by the youngest.
- ↑ "Kosovo Assembly inauguration a 'milestone' on road to self-government". United Nations News. 10 December 2001. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
- ↑ "Kosovo assembly marks historic day". CNN. 10 December 2001. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
- ↑ "Official minutes of the constitutive session, 3 December 2004, Assembly of Kosovo: „Seancën konstitutive e kryesoi deputeti më i moshuar, akademik Mark Krasniqi, kurse e ndihmoi deputetja Nekibe Kelmendi."" (PDF). Assembly of Kosovo. 3 December 2004. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
- ↑ "OSCE Monitoring Report on the Assembly of Kosovo" (PDF). OSCE. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
The 4/9 January inaugural plenary session of the Assembly of Kosovo was initially chaired by Mr. Mark Krasniqi … the oldest Member of the Assembly and co-chaired by Ms. Njomza Emini … the youngest Member of the Assembly.
- ↑ "Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo (29 April 2010)" (PDF). Assembly of Kosovo. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
Until the election of the President and Deputy Presidents of the Assembly, the inaugural session of the Assembly shall be chaired by the oldest Member of the Assembly.
Notes
edit- 1 2 The date of establishment coincides with the date of the assembly first session.
- ↑ Literally translated as President of the Assembly of Kosovo.
- ↑ Literally translated as Speaker of the Parliament of Kosovo.
- ↑ The position of Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo was vacant from 25 May 1999 to 10 December 2001, due to exile resulting from the insurgency and later the war in Kosovo.
- ↑ Under UNMIK Regulation No. 2001/9 (Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-Government), the SRSG exercised supreme executive authority in Kosovo. Following the first elections of 17 November 2001, the constitutive session of 10 December 2001 was chaired by Hans Hækkerup in his official capacity as the highest international administrator. At that time the Assembly had not yet adopted its own Rules of Procedure, and the later custom of the oldest member being assisted by the youngest had not been introduced. Hækkerup therefore opened the session, verified the mandates of the elected deputies, administered the oaths of office, and enabled the election of the permanent leadership (Nexhat Daci of the LDK became the first Speaker). Only after the permanent Speaker was elected did Hækkerup hand over the chair. There was no deputy chairperson because the role was exercised by the international authority rather than by an elected member of the Assembly.
See also
editExternal links
edit- Official website (in Albanian, Serbian and English)