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Wed, Jun 19 2013

Kosovo president Pacolli’s election ruled unconstitutional

Tue, Mar 29 2011 23:03 CET

byThe Sofia Echo staff

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Kosovo president Pacolli’s election ruled unconstitutional

Behgjet Pacolli

Photo: Reuters

Kosovo’s constitutional court has ruled that the election of Behgjet Pacolli on February 22 2011 as president of the country was unconstitutional, media reports said.

The question was referred to the court by 34 opposition members of parliament, who had voted against the election. 

"The constitutional court reached a decision with a majority of its votes that the election procedure goes against article 86 of the constitution, as well as against democratic principles," the court said.

Article 86 says that the president should be elected by a qualified majority of two-thirds of all members of parliament and additionally, there should be at least one other candidate for the position. Pacolli was elected with a simple majority of 61 votes.

It is not clear if there will be another election while Pacolli remains in post, or if he must resign, the BBC said.

The ruling was the second against a Kosovan head of state in six months.

Fatmir Sejdiu resigned in September after the constitutional court said he had violated the constitution by also serving as a party leader.

Pacolli, a multi-millionaire businessman, was elected after a power-sharing deal with prime minister Hashim Thaci.

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