The prime minister's office opposes Anti-Corruption Agency: Increased Salaries Are Conform Law

The Kosovo prime minister's office has said that the decision to raise the government cabinet's wages does not amount to conflict of interest, despite the consisting of the Anti-Corruption Agency (AKK), which says wage growth has been realised contrary to the law.

In its findings, published today, the AKK has said senior public officials (the prime minister, deputy prime ministers, ministers and deputy ministers) who have voted this decision “have acted contrary to the Law for Prevention of Conflict of Interest”.

The AKK has found that the “conflict of interest is caused only by senior officials who have been part of the decision-making process”.

However, Arber Vladhiu, adviser to Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, has said the opinion of the Anti-Corruption Agency is a guide, and that the Government is in the process of drafting an answer that would clarify the decision to raise salaries.

<x) The government is in the process of preparing a response that will clarify that the decision is in full compliance with law and good practices”, Vladhiu has declared for Insideer.

According to Vlachhiu, the government has made a decision based on relevant laws on salary growth.

The legally elected “governments make decisions every day for their functioning, and this does not present conflict of interest. The Government's decision is the collective” decision, Vladiu said.

The Anti-Corruption Agency today stated that the conflict of interest has been presented to senior officials who by their vote have influenced the decision to be in their interest for personal gain.

Prime Minister Haradinaj, on December 21st of last year, had made a decision to raise his own wages and his government cabinet.

His decision had prompted reactions from the opposition and civil society.