Kosovo risks being left without the state budget for next year, as the country is in a political stalemate and the new institutions have not yet been established after the February 9 elections.
While the Ministry of Finance claims that it is currently conducting hearings with stakeholders, the Democratic League of Kosovo MP Avdullah Hoti says the executive in office has not respected the proper procedures for drafting and approving the budget and has no will to find a solution to this situation.
“Although in office, the government should fully prepare the budget bill for 2026 and approve it to the government. He cannot submit it to the Assembly because there is no assembly constituted. This is obliged to approve the draft budget, ie the budget bill for 2026, within the legal deadlines, as set out in the Law on Public Finance Management … If there is no budget approved by December 31 this year, on January 1, by law, all payments are blocked, except exception, except the state debt that the Ministry of Finance has. No other payment can be processed. This shows the irresponsibility of this party that has emerged first in the elections, not paving the way for the formation of institutions, or not, as it is, made public its inability to establish the new government and seek political dialogue on how to move forward. There are modalities on how to move forward. Can be established the temporary government to perform some… We have given an option and there are modalities”He says.
But the expert of the Kosovo Institute for Justice, Naim Jakaj, is skeptical about the right of government in office to adopt the budget.
“We are risking not to have a budget for the next fiscal year. According to the Law on Public Finance Management, such a law must be voted by a legitimate and legal government before October 31 to be sent to the Assembly of Kosovo for approval by December”, Jakaj points out.
According to the head of the Association of Kosovo Municipalities, Sazan Ibrahimi, if no political stalemate solutions, municipalities may face budget problems next year.
“We also have the issue of the budget of the municipalities of the Republic of Kosovo. With the legislation in force, municipalities approve their municipal budgets until September 30 this year for the coming year. If we do not have legislative and executive bodies at the central level constructed, then municipalities can be left without a budget next year, not only municipalities, but the whole state. For this reason, I emphasize that these problems are multidimensional at the local level and we are hoping that as soon as possible, these bodies will be constituted in order to start a normal life in the Republic of Kosovo. So the consequences for the local level are multidimensional”Says Mr. Ibrahimi.
Eight months after the parliamentary elections, new institutions have not yet been established in Kosovo. On September 5, the Constitutional Court of the country imposed a temporary measure by which until September 30, it is forbidden to the elected deputies of the Assembly from taking action or proceeding to the formation of the new government.
Journalist: Elda Pepa
