Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla resigns as Kosovo’s foreign minister

English

Gazeta Express

09/03/2021 10:04

Kosovo’s caretaker foreign minister, Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla, resigned from both government and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) party after a video published by media alleges that her husband, Dardan Stublla, was involved in vote buying scandal granting his wife another mandate in Kosovo Parliament.

Haradinaj-Stublla in a Facebook post announced that she has offered to resign from both government and the AAK and asked for full recount of votes. “Although under unexplained circumstances, facing a pyramidal scheme of staining, blaming, pressure, manipulation and blackmailing against me and my family, I consider as a moral obligation and the right thing to offer immediate resignation from the position of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, and all functions within the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, and its membership,” Haradinaj-Stublla said.

She asked for full recount of votes. “There are grounded suspicions of misuse of other ballot boxes, and therefore I ask for full recount of votes. I will present my evidence to the relevant authorities,” Haradinaj-Stublla said.

In a video published last week by online media Insajderi.org businessman Dardan Stublla, allegedly gave money to four election commissioners who were hired by the Central Election Commission (CEC) to count the ballot papers. The Commissioners in exchange of money allegedly registered votes under Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla’s name granting her a seat in Parliament. Kosovo held early election on 14 February and the winner of elections is the Vetevnedosje of Albin Kurti with about 50 percent of votes. The AAK led by Ramush Haradinaj won only eight seats in a 120-seat Parliament. /GazetaExpress/