Basha: I did not find understanding to push forward the issue of three budgets

2025-10-30 19:05:10, Kosova & Bota CNA

The Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, Dimal Basha, said on Thursday that he did not find the understanding of political representatives at the meeting of the Presidency of the Assembly to push forward three issues: the new Kosovo budget for 2026, the one for Pristina, Gjilan and Zubin Potok, and the budget for Radio Television of Kosovo.

Basha admitted that it is unusual that he convened the Presidency of the Assembly, considering that in current practices, this body convenes only after the country has a new government.

However, he said that the issues raised at this meeting required urgent treatment. According to Basha, the best way was to form parliamentary groups today, divide parliamentary committees, and the following day call an extraordinary session on the issue of the RTK budget, so that the public broadcaster would not be left without money.

He said that the issue of the budgets of the three municipalities would then be addressed, and in a separate session, the state budget for 2026.

"However, I have not found understanding on any of these points. We know that we are in an extraordinary situation. At least I expected that if there was political will, I was convinced that there was no constitutional or legal violation to establish the committees for RTK, the budget for municipalities and the annual budget," said the head of the legislative body.

Basha admitted that without the vote of the new Kosovo Government, it is not known who is in power and opposition and consequently it is not known how many commissions would belong to the parties.

"I agree that there is no position or opposition, but if there was political will, we would agree to separate these 14 parliamentary committees that we have had only for a transitional phase to approve the budgets in question. Then, if we have a new government, no one is stopping the assembly from establishing other parliamentary committees. At the stage we are in, it is urgent to deal with the budget of RTK, the three municipalities and the state budget. It is not the best circumstance, but I think it was the best way to get out of this," he said.

RTK has been facing financial problems for some time now, as its annual report must be discussed by the Assembly's Budget Committee – which has not been established – in order to then have a budget for the salaries of over 700 employees.

Three municipalities – Pristina, Gjilan and Zubin Potok – have been late in approving the budget for 2025, which should have been approved by September 30 of the previous year.

Basha warned that these municipalities will face a financial crisis.

Meanwhile, the Law on the Annual Budget must be approved by October 30th, and experts have warned that at the beginning of the year the state could face financial collapse due to the failure to approve a new budget.

"As you know, with the elections ahead of us, with unforeseen situations, over 80,000 public officials could be left without salaries," Basha said.

The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo from the ranks of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Vlora Çitaku, said after the presidency meeting that an attempt is being made to "simulate democracy by violating the Constitution."

She said that new parliamentary committees cannot be established, since it is not known who is in power and who is in opposition.

"We will not allow the Constitution to be knowingly violated," she said.

Speaking about the budget, she said that the Law is clear, meaning the incumbent Government does not have the right to present a new budget to the Assembly.

"Do you understand what situation we are in? We have no government. The law is very clear. I am surprised by the sense of urgency that the LVV has to address these issues in the run-up to new elections," said Çitaku.

Çitaku added that he hopes that during the meeting on October 31 of party leaders with the country's president, Vjosa Osmani, if it is confirmed that no one has a majority, "we will go to new elections as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly from the ranks of the LVV, Albulena Haxhiu, said that the approach of other parties at the meeting was "destructive".

She warned that in such a situation, without a new annual budget, "we will not even have the budget to organize extraordinary elections next year, especially if we do not agree on the name of the president."

President Osmani has a mandate until April of next year.

"Instead of political clashes, today I saw political whims, political approaches from the other deputy speakers of the Assembly. Instead of being unified [in addressing the situation], we tried our best to be constructive. We understand that [the formation of parliamentary committees] has never happened without a vote from the Government," said Haxhiu.

Haxhiu said that her party does not support the idea of ??a caretaker government to get out of the situation.

On October 26, Albin Kurti, the prime minister-designate, failed to secure the 61 votes needed to form the country's new government.

President Osmani, by law, has called for consultations with political leaders. She must appoint another prime minister to form a government within 10 days of the failure of the first prime minister, according to the Constitution.

However, it is not clear whether a new prime minister will be appointed, due to the lack of will from the parties to reach any governing coalition.

A few days after failing to receive the support of the Assembly for a third term, Kurti - who is the incumbent prime minister - announced new elections in December. /REL