Kosovo parliament elects Vjosa Osmani as national president

Kosovo’s parliament has appointed a 38-year-old U.S.-educated female law professor and candidate of the ruling Vetevendosje party Vjosa Osmani as the country’s new president, following an election in February.

Vjosa Osmani took over as acting president of Kosovo last November when her predecessor, Hashim Thaci, resigned ahead of his impending war crimes trial in the Netherlands.

Osmani’s initial mandate expired when the new government of Prime Minister Albin Kurti, the head of Vetevendosje, took over following the Feb. 14 election.

On Sunday the 120-seat parliament voted in favour of appointing Osmani president by 71 votes, Reuters reported.