Can we hold elections without budget approval for 2021? Talking to Experts

The Constitutional Court's Act of Dismissing the Hoti Government, with which even formally leading the country towards early elections, has found the country at this end without the adoption of the draft budget for 2021.

Recognisors of economic developments and businessmen estimate that they should not go to the polls without adopting the 2021 budget, since in case of the election process, there will be financial collapses in the country.

Economy expert Safet Gerjaliu has told Kosova Preis that without adopting the 2021 budget, there can be no elections and election financing, and the consequences of COVID-19 cannot be reduced.

Gerjaliu also says that the adoption of the budget is in the interest of citizens, so according to him, there is the possibility of a review of the budget by the new government.

“If this government and government cabinet together with parliament will leave the political scene without passing the budget law for 2021 there can be no elections and election financing in 2021 without budget approval. The consequences of COVID-19 cannot be minimized. Therefore, I believe that the least it had to do in Kosovo's parliament is to leave a positive trace in the interest of the state and citizens is to adopt this budget. From the adoption of this budget, there is the possibility of budget review by the eventual government to come in the future. Therefore, it is time to reflect on the state, not only to calculate for votes and protect the interests of certain interest groups”, Gerjaliu stressed.

While Bland Hyseni of the GAP Institute has told Kosovo priss that if the budget is not approved, the economic damage for next year will be even greater, as it is related to implementation of the Law for Economic Recovery.

Next year's “Budget adoption will be another obstacle to the political situation in economic recovery. If that happens then the economic damage in the next year will be greater, and delays in recovery will be prolonged that it would have been of very serious consequences for Kosovo citizens”, Hyseni points out.

Businesses in the country also demand from the Assembly that the 2021 budget take place before parliament is distributed.

The owner of the company “Jysk”, Fatmir Zymberi, tells Kosovo that the delay in budget approval will further burden the economic situation in the country, under which companies today are in crisis.

“I hope the budget will be approved before we enter the election, because this could last, like it happened in the past. This delay made the situation even more serious. I believe that there will be a solution, at least to solve the economic side of this country, to create a stability... I hope the budget will not be delayed as long as the recovery package vote is delayed. We pray that this will be done faster, because we today as we discuss, companies in Kosovo have a crisis. This delay makes it worse, and the consequences will be far more serious”, he says.

During today, incumbent Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti has contacted parliamentary groups to discuss the 2021 budget issue.

Hoti says he is waiting for the response from parliamentary groups, while he emphasises that they expect co-operation by all for the budget, as he said is a specific situation and should not enter the country without budget approval.

We expect from all parliamentary groups without exception. We are in a specific situation now, on the eve of elections, it is not good to enter January without an approved budget. A better possible prepared budget is in the Assembly. Let's order parliamentary groups if they have different suggestions to make changes to that draft budget and adopt”, Hoti said.

Even the economic Odays, during a discussion with the incumbent prime minister, have sought to pass the budget before going to elections.