Kosovo Parliament elects Dimal Basha as new speaker

Basha secured the position on Tuesday with 73 votes in favor during the 57th constitutive session of the Parliament. Thirty lawmakers voted against his appointment, KoSSev said.

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) also backed Basha, despite previously expressing doubts about his competence. The party had signaled in advance that it would support the Self-Determination Movement’s candidate.

Basha is the fourth candidate put forward by the Self-Determination Movement for the role of Parliament speaker, following unsuccessful bids by Albulena Haxhiu, Donika Gervalla, and Hekuran Murati.

The election comes more than six months after Kosovo’s general elections and amid a prolonged institutional crisis.