LDK files criminal charges against members of the incumbent Government

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has filed 17 criminal charges against the acting prime minister, ministers and a deputy minister who have been elected as MPs, accusing them of violating the Law on Government.

LDK MP Hykmete Bajrami, who submitted criminal reports to the Special Prosecution Office together with MP Doarsa Kica-Xhelili, said that the acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, and his subordinates, elected MPs in the February 9 elections, have violated Article 26 of the Law on Government.

She argued that the LDK believes that since March 27 - when the Central Election Commission certified the election results - the members of the incumbent Government, who were elected MPs, have violated this law.

"Since they have continued to remain in the offices of ministries since the date of certification, using resources, making decisions that have financial and other consequences, and using the resources of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, these deputies have committed a criminal offense," said Bajrami.

Bajrami added that for the drafting of criminal reports, LDK lawyers have requested access to documents from the relevant ministries.

"We have received [access to documents] from some, others have not given us access, and the information we had today we have sent to the Special Prosecution. Now, it is up to the Prosecution to request access to other decisions," said Bajrami.

Article 26 of the Law on Government, to which the LDK referred for the criminal charges, states: If a member of the incumbent Government is elected a deputy of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, the same must resign from the position of member of the Government before the day of certification of the election results.

The acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, who has also been sworn in as a member of the ninth legislature, previously argued that his executive has been in resignation since March 23, when his regular 4-year mandate ended.

The issue of the resignation of Kurti and the incumbent ministers was also raised at the start of the constitutive session on April 15, when MPs, who were in opposition last term, voted against the verification of mandates, demanding the submission of the official resignations of the governing cabinet to the Assembly.

Kurti, on the other hand, informed the Assembly that his Government had been in office since March 23, while later his ministers declared that they had submitted their resignations to Kurti. However, the disagreements regarding Kurti's resignation were overcome in the Assembly, paving the way for the swearing-in of the deputies of the ninth legislature.

The criminal charges come at a time when, even after three months of holding regular parliamentary elections, Kosovo has not established new institutions.

As of April 15, the deputies have not yet completed the constitution of the Assembly and the issue has stalled on the election of the Speaker. Only with the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speakers would the Assembly be considered constituted. This would pave the way for the formation of the new Government of Kosovo./ REL