Government programme expected to be voted in Friday

Since the government's formation, the executive has been constantly criticised by opposition parties for delaying in presenting the governing programme, while members of civil society estimate that the government has had enough time for drafting it by stressing the same need to reflect on the needs of citizens.

On the second weekend of April, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti had gathered ministers of his cabinet to draft the governing programme and action plan for the next four years of governance. However, the same has not yet been introduced and voted in government.

Justice Minister Albulen Haxhiu has declared today that the programme will be voted in this Friday.

Speaking of criticism that has been addressed to the government over the delay in presenting the programme, Haxhiu has said it has not been easy to achieve in the finalisation, since all pledges have had to be well thought out in terms.

“As far as the governing programme, mentioned Friday at the end of this week, will be voted into government meetings and will start its implementation, the same is in line with pledges we have made before the elections. The reason it is, it may be considered late, but believe me it hasn't been easy for the fact that the Office for Strategic Planning under the Office of the Prime Minister operates with some programmes that we as ministers have not seen as very easy the ones we've had as electoral pledges to present. The strategic, operational operation, activities for months and years when everyone will be closed, because then we are monitored”, Haxhi said at the Open Table.

About the failure to present the governing programme, criticism has been ongoing by opposition parties.

MP from the ranks of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Ariana Musliu-Scheshi, has told Kosovo Press that the Kurti Government now has positions that differ from the promises it has made.

“The Kurti 2 government is in a total mist because with other positions it has campaigned and opposition since 2010, and now when it has the prime minister and numbers in the Assembly, there are other principles and attitudes that do not apply to promises. Now not only are we as opposition, but their voters are also disappointed with the uncertainty of this government regarding the very important issues of our country, such as pandemic, economy, dialogue and rule of law”, Musliu-Sashi has said.

On the other hand, Rzeze Hoxha, a researcher in the Committee for Jury and Political Studies, has told Kosovo that it is a challenge for the governing programme to provide concrete steps on issues related to the management of pandemic, foreign policy and internal reforms in justice, public administration and education.

“We consider that the government has had enough time, we expect the same to publish the plan as soon as possible, but together with the publication of the plan we expect that the contents of that plan to reflect these needs in which the country should develop. We as GLPS consider that the greatest attention would have to be in its content rather than in the time of publication, because the same should be a concrete, clear and measurable plan, so that it can reflect on the needs of the country, economic development, as well as the numerous reforms the country must pass”, Hoxha said.

On 22 March this year, the Kosovo Assembly, with 67 votes for it, elected the new government led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti.