PRISTINA (Reuters) -Kosovo’s parliament on Tuesday elected a new speaker, ending a six-month legislative crisis that had blocked efforts by the outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti to form a new government after an inconclusive election in February.

Under Kosovo’s constitution, a parliamentary speaker must be voted in before the election winner can form a government, but without cross-party backing that has proved difficult, leading to a stalemate that has exposed deep divisions in Europe’s newest state.

In all, the parliament voted more than 50 times before they finally agreed on Dimal Basha, who is from Kurti’s party, receiving 73 votes in the 120-seat house.

Five deputy speakers must also be elected, in a vote expected later on Tuesday.

Kurti now has two weeks to reach a deal with ot

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