PRISTINA – Kosovo’s President Behgjet Pacolli resigned on Wednesday after the constitutional court ruled that his election by parliament a month ago was not constitutional, but he would run for the office again, an aide said.
The resignation of Pacolli, who was elected to the largely ceremonial job in a power-sharing deal with Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, might force early parliamentary elections unless ruling and opposition parties cooperate to end the deadlock.
Pacolli’s own road to the presidency was opened after the court ruled that his predecessor Fatmir Sejdiu had broken the law by serving as a party leader and president at the same time, paving way for early parliamentary elections last December. “The president of the Republic of Kosovo Behgjet Pacolli is ready to respect the decision (of the constitutional court),” Pacolli’s top aide Ibrahim Gashi told reporters.
“Pacolli will be the candidate of the coalition partners in the new election because he did not violate the constitution,” Gashi said. Diplomats said Europe’s youngest country was facing crises and was unable to cope with them. They said the new political crisis would further complicate technical talks with Serbia which it split from three years ago, and would delay the sale of state-owned companies.
