JURIST - Paper Chase: Kosovo president resigns after constitutional court ruling

[JURIST] Kosovar President Fatmir Sejdiu [official website] resigned [press release] Monday following last week's Constitutional Court [official website] ruling [press release] that his dual roles as president and head of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) violated the country's constitution. Sejdiu said he did not believe his title as president of the LDK violated the constitution since he was not exercising duties associated with that role. "However," he stated, "since the Constitutional Court has ruled otherwise, I respect its ruling, despite the fact that the ruling rendered by the Court or a reasoning thereto has not been served on me." Sedjiu will be replaced on an interim basis by Speaker of Parliament Jakup Krasniqi [official website] of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). Some fear Sejdiu's resignation could cause strife [AFP report] within the government, since a coalition agreement calls for a president from the LDK and a prime minister, currently Hashim Thaci [official profile], from the PDK. Sejdiu's resignation could also negatively impact upcoming discussions [AFP report] with Serbia.

In July, the Serbian National Assembly [official website] passed a resolution [JURIST report] that Serbia would never recognize Kosovo's independence. Earlier that month, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) [official website] ruled that Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia [JURIST reports] did not violate international law In June, a group of 25 countries that recognize Kosovo's independence urged the government to increase its efforts [JURIST report] to battle crime and corruption after meeting with Sejdiu and Thaci.