Tax, ruling split coalition

But, increasing international pressure on the suspension of this decision that went into effect on 21 November last year, also marked the starting point of disputes between Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj on the one hand and Parliament Speaker Kadri Veselin and President Hashim Thaci, who do not share the same opinion about the tax imposed on the products of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

While the executive leader insists the tax will not be lifted, Kosovo Democratic Party Chairman Kadri Veselini, but also former leader of this party, now Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, agree that the tax should be lifted.

The latter changed their stance, following international pressure, and especially the continued demands of the United States of America, for the tax to be suspended and the path of continuing dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia opens.

The Kosovo Government's positions have also been addressed by the chairman of the Democratic League of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa. He said government Haradinaj must change its attitudes and behaviour towards decisions it has made and international partners, and especially towards the US.

However, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo MP Teuta Haxhiu said there is no rift among ruling coalition partners. MP Haxhiu told Radio Free Europe that the tax decision has been made in co-operation with coalition partners.

The division of the ruling coalition partners, according to political affairs connoisseur, suggests that the decision to impose the tax was not well thought out. He said that the ruling coalition's own division in relation to the tax is best evidence that there has been no plan, and there has been no idea how it should act if international pressure on the Kosovo government is increased due to the tax.