Kosovo Opposition Launch Fresh Bid to Oust Mustafa

Kosovo opposition parties have initiated a new attempt to bring down Isa Mustafa’s coalition government by filing a no-confidence motion in parliament.

In a move initiated by the opposition Initiative for Kosovo, Nisma, Kosovo opposition parties are hoping a no-confidence motion will oust the government of Isa Mustafa after 42 MPs filed signatures in parliament on Friday.

“We have over 42 signatures and thank the signatories but we hope others will also be present in parliament for the vote,” the chief of Nisma’s parliamentary group, Valdete Bajrami, said.
During Friday, the Assembly Presidency will decide the date for the vote. The opposition will need at least 61 of 120 votes of MPs to overthrow the coalition government.

“This is a democratic step that serves the country’s benefit. I hope that when the parliamentary session is held the government will be overthrown,” the chief of the parliamentary group of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK, Pal Lekaj stated.
Aida Derguti, vice-speaker of parliament, from the opposition Vetevendosje party, said the fate of the motion was in MPs’ hands, “in this situation when we have an irresponsible government”.

The no-confidence motion was also signed by four MPs from the ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, Nait Hasani, Shukri Buja, Rafet Rama and Raif Qela and by some ethnic minority MPs.
Mustafa’s cabinet, his Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK and the PDK were not available for comment by the time of publication.

The opposition has been demanding the fall of the government for two years, mainly over the controversial agreements that the government signed in Brussels in 2015 on border demarcation with Montenegro – that is still to be voted on in parliament – and on establishing an autonomous Association of Serb-majority Municipalities.
The ruling coalition has faced bitter opposition both outside and within institutions over both of these issues.
Opposition MPs have even resorted to using teargas in parliament to disrupt matters.

However, the government is also under strong international pressure to get moving with the border deal with Montenegro in particular.
The EU says it cannot proceed with visa liberalisation for Kosovo – an importance issue for the country – until the border issue with Montenegro is laid to rest.
Opposition parties insist the deal threatens to rob Kosovo of valuable pasture and farmland.

 

Source: Balkan Insight