Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci has convinced NISMA’s MP Haxhi Shala to vote in favor of the Hoti Government after he had publicly declared his vote against.
On 1 June, Shala announced his vote against due to “principled disagreement” within NISMA regarding the taking over of party leadership by certain individuals. NISMA has 4 MPs, and its leader Fatmir Limaj had entered a coalition agreement with the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), the second largest party in the country, to which President Thaci offered to form a new government.
However, MP Haxhi Shala announced his vote in favor of the new government today in Parliament:
“Two days ago I announced that I wouldn’t vote for this government because the NISMA party has been taken over by two people. Last night, however, after President and former Prime Minister Haradinaj visited my family, I changed my mind. My vote will be for the Hoti government for the sake of these two persons [Hashim Thaci and Ramush Haradinaj].”
The Hoti Government wouldn’t have been approved without the vote of MP Haxhi Shala. It got the minimum required of 61 votes in the 120-seat parliament.
Kosovo’s Constitution mandates the President represent the unity of the people and stay above the interests of political parties.
