Deutsche Welle, KOSOVO | 08.04.2011
Kosovo has elected a new president after its constitutional court ousted the former head of state. The ruling coalition has agreed with an opposition proposal to install female police commander Atifete Jahjaga as leader.
Jahaga is the first female president of Kosovo |
Kosovo's parliament has elected Atifete Jahjaga, the female deputy chief of the country's police force, as president in an emergency session.
The 38-year-old was elected Thursday with 80 votes in the 120-member parliament, with only 100 members voting.
As she was sworn in, Jahjaga spoke of her desire for Kosovo to secure a better future and gain EU membership.
"I believe and I am convinced our dreams will come true," she said in her first speech to parliament.
Prime Minister Hashim Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and its coalition partner, the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR), agreed to install Jahjaga as a compromise candidate. She was put forward as a candidate by the leading opposition party the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK).
The parties also agreed to electoral and constitutional changes including the direct election of the president by the public.
Jahjaga becomes the first female president of Kosovo since it declared independence from Serbia three years ago.
The vote was taken after more than 40 members of the country's legislature submitted a request for parliament to meet.
Kosovo was left without a president last month after the election of former incumbent Behgjet Pacolli was ruled unconstitutional. It was found that the number of delegates present for his election had been insufficient after a walkout by opposition members.
Author: Richard Connor (AFP, dpa)
Editor: Martin Kuebler
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