Kosovo elects female president
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The Kosovo Assembly elected Thursday senior police officer Atifete Jahjaga as President of the country, in a hope to end the institutional crisis that occurred last week.
Jahjaga, deputy head of the Kosovo police, was elected President as a consensual candidate of the ruling PDK (Kosovo Democratic Party) and main opposition LDK (Democratic League of Kosovo) party.
Two thirds of the members of the 120-seat Assembly voted for her in the first round, one week after the highest court ruled unconstitutional the election of businessman Behgjet Pacolli.
"I'll do my outmost to ensure Kosovo can display its best democratic and constitutional values," Jahjaga said in her inaugural address in the Assembly.
Her rival Susan Novoberdali won 10 votes.
Jahjaga mentioned also the dialogue with Serbia, describing it as a process that can open a new chapter in the prosperity of the region.
Her election is a result of a compromise between main political parties, which limits her mandate to 18 months, after which the president will be elected directly by citizens.
Kosovo unilaterally seceded from Serbia in 2008, a move that is fiercely rejected by Belgrade, which demands a negotiated resolution of its final status.
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