Kosovo’s largest party Vetevendosje (LVV) is asking the Constitutional Court to rule on the constitutionality of President Hashim Thaci “inciting, convincing and obligating” MP Haxhi Shala to change his vote in favor of Kosovo’s new Hoti Government.
LVV argues that Thaci overstepped his authority and his actions constituted a violation of division of powers and democratic principles.
Shala’s vote was crucial to the formation of the Hoti government, which was approved by the required minimum of 61 votes in the 120-seat parliament.
Shala had announced his vote against on June 1, two days before the voting took place, due to internal disagreements with his NISMA party leadership.
President Thaci personally visited MP Shala’s home a few hours before the parliamentary vote, together with former Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj. The next day Shala announced that Thaci and Haradinaj had changed his mind and he was going to vote for the government, which he did.
Thaci has admitted that he convinced MP Haxhi Shala to change his decision to vote against the new Hoti Government to a vote in favor.
LVV has previously turned to the Constitutional Court regarding whether the Hoti government was voted in constitutionally. MP Etem Arifi’s vote for the new government, LVV claims, is invalid as he had been sentenced for a criminal offence, something that, according to Kosovo’s Constitution, renders his mandate invalid.
