The Kosovo Parliament on Thursday elected 36-year-old police general Atifete Jahjaga President of Kosovo, thus putting an end to the political crisis in the country, the AFP news agency reported.
A week ago, the Constitutional Court declared the election of Behgjet Pacolli Kosovo's President unconstitutional, which caused a political crisis.
The ruling coalition government and the main opposition party, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), on Wednesday agreed on Jahjaga's candidacy. Until recently, Jahjaga was unknown on Kosovo's political scene.
She was elected with the votes of 80 out of 100 deputies attending today's parliament session.
Her rival, Suzana Novoberdaliu of Pacolli's Alliance for A New Kosovo (AKR), won ten votes.
Kosovo has a 120-seat parliament.
The voting was boycotted by 16 deputies of the opposition Self-Determination party, which accuses the government of having rushed the elections to stay in power.
"Kosovo's ideals are accession to the European Union and lasting friendship with the United States. I am confident that our dreams will come true," said Jahjaga, who is not a member of any political party due to her position in the police.
