The Committee for Constitutional changes

In front of representatives of all parliamentary groups, Chairman Bajrami spoke about the work of the Committee and the tasks awaiting its members within the nine months period on changing the Constitution. As Chairman, Bajrami offered his cooperation and at the same time asked for the support of the other committee members stressing the need that the approach towards this process be professional and with political responsibility.

He noted that the committee currently has a legal mandate to work in two segments: in the amendment of the section pertaining to the election of the President in order that the door would open for the President’s direct election, and in the section in relation to elections.

“These are substantial changes and affect the foundations of the Constitutional system of the Republic of Kosovo for a president elected from the people also affects in the quality of governance” Chairman Bajrami underscored.

However, according to him, the Committee will ask from the Assembly for an additional mandate on reviewing the Constitution in other segments as well, and especially in the Transitions Chapter which lays out the competencies of the international civil presence in the first stage of the independence.

According to him it is possible that many competencies which are now being exercised by the international presence be carried over to local institutions. However, he said that an internal consensus and consensus with the international factor is needed on these matters. He noted that all this process will be run in close consultation with international mechanisms by receiving the good parts from the countries which have already passed this stage of transition.

Bajrami said that the process will be run in three stages: the first stage will include professional debates; drafting will be conducted in the second stage, and in the third stage the changes will undergo the public debate.

He said that alongside the constitutional changes, the committee is also mandated in drafting a law on the President’s direct election.

Chairman Bajrami announced that in the following weeks a work plan will be presented in the committee and the work agenda will be determined there.

Other members of the committee also spoke on the need for Constitutional changes underscoring the importance of these changes, which, as they said, will impact its other parts as well. The imperative of the implementation of the Constitution after the changes are made was also stressed. The MP’s expressed their position that during this process there should be a quality performance from the Committee’s part.

http://www.assembly-kosova.org/?cid=1,128,3689