Kosovo PM Kurti dismisses Minister of Interior ‘for spreading panic’

Gazeta Express

18/03/2020 13:18

Prime Minister Albin Kurti has dismissed Wednesday minister of Internal Affairs, Agim Veliu who is member of coalition partner – LDK. Kurti said the decision was taken after minister Veliu was “spreading panic” at the time the country is struggling to contain further spread of coronavirus, Gazeta Express.

According to a press release Veliu in a televised interview late on Tuesday expressed challenged the position of PM Kurti who was against the country declare the state of emergency. Late on Tuesday Kosovo’s National Security Council, composed of tops state institutions including the Presdient and Prime Minister, held a meeting to coordinate on measures against spread of coronavirus. Addressing media after the meeting President Hashim Thaci proposed the Parliament to declare the state of emergency, but the Government said this is unnecessary and an extreme measure considering that the Government is handling good the situation created after 19 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Kosovo. In this open clash between the President and Prime Minister over security measures, minister of Interior, Agim Veliu, sided with the President implying imposing of the state of emergency.

The Government in a press release said that with his public statements, minister of Internal Affairs, showed lack of leadership and openly undermines the work of the Government. Appearing late on Tuesday in Klan Kosova TV, Veliu said the “number of those affected with coronavirus is increased in hourly basis” and went against PM Kurti’s position of not introducing extreme measures such as state of emergency.

The Government in its statement said that neither Ministry of Health nor National Institute of Health have stated the number of those infected with COVID-19 is increased in hourly basis. “At these critical moments when the entire public administration is making maximal efforts to minimize damages from coronavirus, leaders of central institutions, including here members of Government should demonstrate maturity in taking actions and making statements,” the Govenrment said. PM Kurti said that he has already informed his coalition partner – the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) on the decision and asked them in accordance with the agreement on coalition deal to propose a new minister of Internal Affairs. /GazetaExpress/