President of Kosovo

President of Republic of Kosovo
President of Republic of Kosovo
Presidenti i Republikës së Kosovës (Albanian); Председник Републике Косова (Serbian)
	Presidential seal
	Presidential standard
	Incumbent; Vjosa Osmani; since 4 April 2021
Style	Madam President; Her Excellency
Status	Head of State
Residence	none
Seat	Pristina
Appointer	Kuvendi
Term length	Five years; Renewable once
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Kosovo
Inaugural holder	Mehmed Hoxhaa; Fadil Hoxhab; Xhavid Nimanic; Ibrahim Rugovad;
Formation	1 January 1944a; 11 July 1945b; May 1974c; 25 January 1992 (de jure)d; 4 March 2002 (de facto)d; 17 February 2008 (official);
Salary	2,873 € monthly
Website	Official website
	a. As Chairman of the People's Liberation Committee of SAP Kosovo.; b. As President of the Assembly of SAP Kosovo.; c. As President of the Presidency of SAP Kosovo.; d. As President of Kosovo.;

The president of the Republic of Kosovo (Albanian: Presidenti i Republikës së Kosovës, Serbian: Председник Републике Косова, romanized: Predsednik Republike Kosova), is the head of state and chief representative of the Republic of Kosovo in the country and abroad.

The president is elected indirectly, by the Assembly of Kosovo, in a secret ballot by a two-thirds majority of deputies in functions. If no candidate achieves a two-thirds majority, at the third ballot the candidate who receives a simple majority is elected.^[2]

The vote in the Assembly should take place no later than a month before the end of the incumbent president's term of office.^[3] The president serves for a five-year term, renewable once.

History and precursor[]

The first post-war president, who served until his death in January 2006, was Ibrahim Rugova. His successor was Fatmir Sejdiu. When Sejdiu resigned from his post on 27 September 2010, Jakup Krasniqi served as acting president.^[4]^[5] On 22 February 2011, Behgjet Pacolli was elected as a president of Kosovo,^[6] which was quickly evaluated as unconstitutional move.^[7] On 4 April 2011, Behgjet Pacolli stepped down^[8] and it was decided that another candidate would be elected to serve for up to a year. A constitutional reform will be undertaken to allow for a popular vote for the president in 2013. On 7 April 2011, Atifete Jahjaga, Deputy Director of the Kosovo Police,^[9] with the rank of major general,^[10] was elected as president.

Officeholders[]

Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo[]

Parties

KPK/SKK

No.	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Political party
Chairman of the People's Liberation Committee 1944–1945
1	Mehmed Hoxha (1908–1987)	1 January 1944	11 July 1945	Communist Party
Presidents of the Assembly 1945–1974
1	Fadil Hoxha (1916–2001) 1st time	11 July 1945	20 February 1953	Communist Party renamed in 1952 to League of Communists
2	Ismet Shaqiri (1918–1986)	20 February 1953	12 December 1953	League of Communists
3	Đorđije Pajković (1917–1980)	12 December 1953	5 May 1956	League of Communists
4	Pavle Jovićević (1910–1985)	5 May 1956	4 April 1960	League of Communists
5	Dušan Mugoša (1914–1973)	4 April 1960	18 June 1963	League of Communists
6	Stanoje Akšić (1921–1970)	18 June 1963	24 June 1967	League of Communists
(1)	Fadil Hoxha (1916–2001) 2nd time	24 June 1967	7 May 1969	League of Communists
7	Ilaz Kurteshi (1927–2016)	7 May 1969	May 1974	League of Communists
Presidents of the Presidency 1974–1990
1	Xhavid Nimani (1919–2000)	May 1974	August 1981	League of Communists
2	Ali Shukriu (1919–2005)	August 1981	1982	League of Communists
3	Kolë Shiroka (1922–1994)	1982	May 1983	League of Communists
4	Shefqet Nebih Gashi (1927–)	May 1983	May 1985	League of Communists
5	Branislav Škembarević (1920–2003)	May 1985	May 1986	League of Communists
6	Bajram Selani (1919–2019+)	May 1986	May 1988	League of Communists
7	Remzi Kolgeci (1947–2011)	May 1988	5 April 1989	League of Communists
8	Hysen Kajdomçaj (1943–)	27 June 1989	11 April 1990	League of Communists

Republic of Kosova (recognised only by Albania)[]

Parties

LDK

No.	Name (Birth–Death)	Portrait	Elected	Term of office		Political party
President 1992–2000
1	Ibrahim Rugova (1944–2006)		—	25 January 1992	1 February 2000	Democratic League

UN-administered Kosovo[]

Parties

LDK

No.	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Term of office		Political party
Presidents 2002–2008
1	Ibrahim Rugova (1944–2006)	2002	4 March 2002	21 January 2006 (Died in office)	Democratic League
—	Nexhat Daci (1944–)	—	21 January 2006	10 February 2006	Democratic League
2	Fatmir Sejdiu (1951–)	2006 2008	10 February 2006	17 February 2008	Democratic League

Republic of Kosovo (as recognised by 112 UN member states)[]

Parties

LDK PDK AKR Independent Guxo LV

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Political party	Election
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Political party	Election
Presidents 2008–present
1		Fatmir Sejdiu (born 1951)	17 February 2008	27 September 2010	2 years, 222 days	LDK	2008
–		Jakup Krasniqi (born 1951) Acting	27 September 2010	22 February 2011	148 days	PDK	—
2		Behgjet Pacolli (born 1951)	22 February 2011	4 April 2011	41 days	AKR	2011
–		Jakup Krasniqi (born 1951) Acting	4 April 2011	7 April 2011	3 days	PDK	—
3		Atifete Jahjaga (born 1975)	7 April 2011	7 April 2016	5 years, 0 days	Independent	2011
4		Hashim Thaçi (born 1968)	7 April 2016	5 November 2020	4 years, 212 days	PDK	2016
–		Vjosa Osmani (born 1982) Acting	5 November 2020	22 March 2021	137 days	Guxo	—
–		Glauk Konjufca (born 1981) Acting	22 March 2021	4 April 2021	13 days	Vetëvendosje	—
5		Vjosa Osmani (born 1982)	4 April 2021	Incumbent	314 days	Guxo	2021

Latest election[]

Notes and references[]

Notes:

a.

^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia. The Republic of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence on 17 February 2008. Serbia continues to claim it as a part of its own sovereign territory. The two governments began to normalise relations in 2013, as part of the 2013 Brussels Agreement. Kosovo is currently recognised as an independent state by 97 out of the 193 United Nations member states. In total, 112 UN member states have recognised Kosovo at some point, of which 15 states later withdrew their recognition.

References:

^ "Infographic: What are the Monthly Salaries of Presidents in the Region - Sarajevo Times". Sarajevo Times. 25 February 2018.
^ Balkan Update
^ A New President for Kosovo, Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso, 20 January 2016
^ "Sejdiu dha dorëheqje nga posti i presidentit" (in Albanian). telegrafi.com. 27 September 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
^ "Kosovo president resigns over breach of constitution". BBC. 27 September 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
^ Bytyci, Fatos (22 February 2011). "Kosovo elects businessman Behgjet Pacolli president". Reuters.
^ Snyder, Whitney (30 March 2011). "Kosovo President Behgjet Pacolli Resigns, Vows To Run Again". Huffington Post.
^ "Kosovo's president steps down after election ruled invalid | DW | 30.03.2011".
^ Koha, "Në krye të Policisë së Kosovës, Atifete Jahjaga" Shqip TIME.mk 16 October 2010 (accessed 6 April 2011)
^ "Atifete Jahjaga zgjidhet presidente e Republikës" Telegrafi.com 7 April 2011 (accessed 6 April 2011)

External links[]

President of Kosovo The official website

[sarajevotimes.com-1] "Infographic: What are the Monthly Salaries of Presidents in the Region - Sarajevo Times". Sarajevo Times. 25 February 2018.

[2] Balkan Update

[3] A New President for Kosovo, Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso, 20 January 2016

[4] "Sejdiu dha dorëheqje nga posti i presidentit" (in Albanian). telegrafi.com. 27 September 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2010.

[5] "Kosovo president resigns over breach of constitution". BBC. 27 September 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2010.

[6] Bytyci, Fatos (22 February 2011). "Kosovo elects businessman Behgjet Pacolli president". Reuters.

[7] Snyder, Whitney (30 March 2011). "Kosovo President Behgjet Pacolli Resigns, Vows To Run Again". Huffington Post.

[8] "Kosovo's president steps down after election ruled invalid | DW | 30.03.2011".

[police-9] Koha, "Në krye të Policisë së Kosovës, Atifete Jahjaga" Shqip TIME.mk 16 October 2010 (accessed 6 April 2011)

[election/rank-10] "Atifete Jahjaga zgjidhet presidente e Republikës" Telegrafi.com 7 April 2011 (accessed 6 April 2011)

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v t Presidents of Kosovo
Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo (1944–1992)	Mehmed Hoxha Fadil Hoxha Ismet Saqiri Đorđije Pajković Pavle Jovićević Dušan Mugoša Stanoje Akšić Fadil Hoxha Ilaz Kurteshi Xhavid Nimani Ali Shukriu Kolë Shiroka Shefqet Nebih Gashi Branislav Škembarević Bajram Selani Remzi Kolgeci Hysen Kajdomçaj
Republic of Kosova (Recognized only by Albania) (1992–2000)	Ibrahim Rugova
UN-administered Kosovo (2000–2008)	Ibrahim Rugova Nexhat Daci (acting) Fatmir Sejdiu
Republic of Kosovo (Recognized by 112 UN member states) (2008–present)	Fatmir Sejdiu Jakup Krasniqi (acting) Behgjet Pacolli Jakup Krasniqi (acting) Atifete Jahjaga Hashim Thaçi Vjosa Osmani (acting) Glauk Konjufca (acting) Vjosa Osmani