The highest institution in the country, during 2015 faced a lot of clashes between political parties in power and the opposition, which eventually led to the largest political crisis in country. The year 2015 was an exceptionally hard year for the Assembly and the citizens. The political clashes between the opposition and the government, the blocking of plenary sessions, the use of tear gas, holding the sessions in improvised halls, violation of procedures and parliamentary practices, passing laws without substantial debate, the exclusion of opposition deputies, arresting the deputies are just some of the common acts that the Assembly faced during 2015.
The Assembly during 2015 has served as an collision area for political parties’ interests, rather than a place where alternatives are debated. The delays in the parliamentary committees’ work, and the small number of held sessions during 2015 have directly affected the legislative agenda. The Assembly approved only 34% of the laws planned for this year.
KDI recommends:
– Independent deputies’ representation in Assembly Committees. Their full representation, with the right to vote must be foreseen in the Assembly’s Regulation.
– Non approval of supplementary pensions for deputies as “supplementary gift to themselves. KDI recommends that the 30% of the wage as foreseen to be paid to the deputies after three mandates, should not be approved, because it is considered more as a “supplementary gift”.
– To stop the practice of approving laws with accelerated procedures. This has become a usual practice in Kosovo Assembly, but it needs to stop because it is directly influencing the quality of laws.
– A better coordination of visits abroad and the creation of friendship (fellowship) groups. The Assembly must coordinate better the case of deputies’ official visits so that the reports in the committees of the opposition and ruling parties are more coherent and similar, and the visits not to be used for personal or party promotion.
– The practice of presenting the amendments in the plenary sessions to be stopped. According to the Assembly’s Regulation the amendments must be presented in relevant committees.
– A realistic legislative agenda and more legislative initiatives. The legislative agenda of 2015 was fulfilled in a very small percentage because of the failure of Government to bring laws. Also, the Assembly should take more legislative initiatives and should be more involved in law drafting.
– The supervision of the enforcement of laws. The Assembly along with approving new laws should pay attention to the supervising.
– Greater supervision of independent bodies. The Assembly must supervise strictly the independent bodies and to create appropriate mechanisms for reporting and accountability.
– The Government must not withdraw the draft laws in parliamentary procedures. Withdrawing the draft laws presented in the Assembly spends the time and resources of the Assembly to review them, and also reflects a lower rate of fulfilling the legislative agenda.
– To respect the assigned time of speeches in plenary sessions. The non – limitation of debate and speeches affects the debate and causes loss of interest to hear the next speakers in line.
– A better planning of the budget in the category Capital Expenses and detailed report of expenses. The Assembly must provide a better planning of the budget in general and must focus on publishing detailed expenses, not only according to budget lines.
– The approval of the Assembly’s Work Regulation. The Legislation should urgently to finish the started work on approving the new Assembly’s Work Regulation, which is vital to a better functioning of the Assembly.
– Changes in the electoral system should reflect the needs and address the obstacles encountered by the Venice Commission, and should enter into force one year before the election. The Assembly should as soon as possible take steps towards the completion of electoral reform, and working bodies to be more comprehensive.
– To select external auditors to audit the finances of political parties.