U.S. Embassy: Assembly has spoken
(All monitored broadcasters, TV21)
Through a press release issued, the U.S. Embassy expressed itself regarding the no confidence motion, thus expressing the steadfast support of United States for Kosovo on its path to Euro-Atlantic integration.
“The Assembly has spoken. As the transition proceeds and the country gears up for early elections we call on all officials who remain in government to re-commit themselves to serve Kosovo’s citizens – all of them – who are their employers. We continue in our steadfast support for Kosovo, its citizens, and its path to full Euro-Atlantic integration,” a release of the U.S. Embassy in Prishtinë/Pristina states.
Apostolova: Assembly’s dissolution postpones visa liberalisation
(TV21)
Head of the European Union Office in Kosovo, Nataliya Apostolova, said that dissolution of the Assembly without approving Demarcation of the Border with Montenegro postpones visa liberalisation process.
“The vote today took place in a crucial moment for Kosovo and its relations with the EU, as well as required reforms. My comment is that the work we have started with Kosovo institutions should not stop because of today’s voting and because of upcoming elections. It is important that everything we have done together in the rule of law, economic development, and dialogue to go on,” Apostolova said.
She called on political parties not to deviate priorities from the European path because, according to her, these priorities are at the benefit of Kosovo citizens. She underlined that SAA must be implemented.
In this interview with TV21 she stated that Demarcation should be approved by the new composition of the Assembly, and she does not know when this can happen.
Johannes Hahn regrets Kosovo Assembly’s no confidence vote
(Klan Kosova)
The European Commissioner, Johannes Hahn, did not welcome today’s ousting of Government, saying that leaders and Kosovo institutions should focus on great challenges that the country faces.
Through a post in Twitter, Hahn said that work on rule of law, economy, dialogue and visa liberalisation must continue.
“Regret today’s no confidence vote of the Kosovo Assembly. Political leaders, institutions must not lose sight of great challenges Kosovo faces. Kosovo: key work on rule of law, economy, dialogue and visa liberalization must continue, for the benefit of the citizens,” Hahn wrote on Twitter.
Kosovo Assembly ousts Government
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) supported opposition’s motion to oust Isa Mustafa Government, part of which it was until Wednesday.
Out of the 117 MPs that were in the chamber at the moment of voting, 78 of them voted in favour, 34 against and 3 abstained.
The Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli, also voted for ousting the Government led by Isa Mustafa. Most of PDK MPs obeyed to their chief of party to vote in favour of ousting the Government.
However, there were also those who abstained and voted against. Ganimete Musliu abstained, MP Labinotë Demi-Murtezi voted against, while the MP without caucus, Blerim Shala, abstained. MPs of all opposition parties voted in favour of the no-confidence motion.
Immediately after the Government ousting, based on the Constitution of Kosovo, President Hashim Thaçi signed the decree, by which it also dissolved the Assembly.
According to the Law on Elections, the country should enter elections no later than between 30 and 45 days, which means on 11 June, potentially on the 18th of the same month.
Klan Kosova reported that on Thursday morning, Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi will launch the consultative meetings with political entities to decide about the date of early elections.
LDK does not rule out new coalition with PDK
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
The leaving Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, came in and out of the Assembly chamber many times during Wednesday.
He did not accept to speak about the ousting that was achieved with the votes of its coalition partner, PDK, with which LDK did not rule out the possibility of a new coalition.
Nevertheless, initiators of this motion, opposition parties, have considered this as a success, while they also drew red lines as with whom they do not want to co-govern after elections.
Vetëvendosje Movement officials say that internal party bodies decide about everything, but they ruled out the possibility of cooperation with PDK and with Isa Mustafa.
Since summer 2015, the fifth legislation of the Assembly was more dysfunctional than it carried out the tasks for which the citizens voted it.
The stall started with the signing of two agreements, the one on Demarcation with Montenegro and the Association of Serb majority municipalities, by the Government with Serbia.
In the meantime, the AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj held a press conference where he requested from the U.S. and EU to support free and democratic elections. He once again reiterated red lines for the political parties which were part of the Government.
Veseli throws accusations against Mustafa, latter responds
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Not even three hours passed after the breaking of coalition partnership, PDK chairman Kadri Veseli threw accusations against Isa Mustafa.
In a video that Kadri Veseli aired on Wednesday afternoon, he did not mention PDK anywhere as part of the Government, but it referred to it as Isa Mustafa’s led Government.
Speaking on behalf of Kosovo citizens, Veseli said that trust on Isa Mustafa’s leadership was lost.
The leaving Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, also reacted. Through a post in Facebook social network, few after the Government led by him was ousted, he accused PDK of crime and corruption.
“This government halted the crime, corruption and capturing of the state. I was aware that PDK and the corrupt clientele do not stand this. We have impeded degradation of the state, and we will set it free from the claws of crime,” Mustafa wrote.
LDK does not recognise President
(Klan Kosova)
After ousting of the Government, Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) issued a press release through which it said that Wednesday’s action has once again left Kadri Veseli and his collaborators in PDK without a mask, and that Kosovo Government ousting by the ‘coalition of incriminated’ ultimately risks visa liberalisation for Kosovo citizens, other Euro-Atlantic integrations, establishment of Kosovo Army, and membership in international organisations, Klan Kosova portal reported.
“LDK calls on citizens of Republic of Kosovo to be calm and careful in the situation created following today’s decision of the Assembly of Kosovo, led with hypocrisy and perfidy from PDK of Kadri Veseli.
Today’s action once again left Kadri Veseli and his collaborators in PDK without a mask, incriminated and with serious problems with the law and who joined today to give an end to the Government which set the state free from overall capture, and which broke the threads of crimes and corruption. With this action, the Coalition Agreement falls in its integrity and LDK does not recognise any of its points, and none of its political results,” the LDK press release states among other things.
Haziri: PDK biggest rival to LDK
(Summary of KTV – Rubicon show)
Ousting of Kosovo Government was a well-planned scenario and minorities helped achievement of this goal. This was stated by LDK deputy chairperson, Lutfi Haziri, in KTV Rubicon show.
Haziri said that although they were ruling partners, from today on PDK and LDK will be the biggest rivals.
With the break-up of the coalition agreement, Haziri did not deny the option that LDK does not recognize Hashim Thaçi as President of Kosovo.
Commenting the video message of PDK chairperson, Kadri Veseli, which was published few hours after ousting of the Government, Haziri said that PDK did not had the courage to disclose its real goals in the Assembly, but it’s doing it this through Veseli’s videos. He said that all these things demonstrate that the ousting of the Government was a well-planned scenario.
“We do not carry any responsibility for breaking the [coalition] agreement. We have respected it,” Haziri said, stressing that LDK did not allow anyone to interfere in its work.
“There was a certain trend in Kosovo that you do the work, but someone else told you how to do it,” Haziri noted.
The guilt for lack of decision-making should not be attributed to the leaving Prime Minister Isa Mustafa. According to Haziri, this should be addressed to Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli. While, he considers PDK tendencies to get the PM’s position as unachievable, noting that Kosovo would never accept such a leadership.
In KTV Rubicon show Haziri also spoke about recent LDK meetings with PDK. According to him, PDK’s persistence to have elections in June was based entirely on political interests.
Haziri said he does not see PDK as a potential coalition partner in the future, although he said that LDK will soon come forward with its official stance. He considers the statement of Vetëvendosje chairperson Visar Ymeri that the party he leads would cooperate with a different LDK, and without Isa Mustafa, as unacceptable. He said that no political entity has the right to interfere in another political entity, or in their public figures. “There will be no more conditional cooperation. It is like if LDK says we will cooperate with AAK, but without Ramush Haradinaj,” Haziri underlined.
He expressed his confidence that LDK will win these early elections. He also said that Isa Mustafa will continue to be the LDK chairperson and that he might be again LDK’s nomine for the Prime Minister’s post.
Hazi also commended the adherence of journalist Arbana Xharra in PDK. Moreover, Haziri said that he regrets that Xharra did not choose LDK.
