Clash in committee over the KPMShCK, Bajrami asks Shabani about his political affiliation

The functioning of the Independent Oversight Council for the Civil Service of Kosovo (KPMShCK), the lack of a quorum and delays in handling complaints sparked heated debate between ruling-party and opposition MPs in the Committee on Public Administration, Digitalization, Local Government, Media and Regional Development.

During the Council representatives’ report, Vetëvendosje MP Alban Bajrami questioned the conduct of member Eshref Shabani. He said Shabani’s manner of responding had a political tone and asked which party he belonged to.

Bajrami said the KPMShCK representatives should have come prepared with relevant reports and data. He also criticized one of the members for remarks made during the committee meeting, describing them as unnecessary and politically tinged.

“It is important that you were invited here today and had the opportunity to report. At the very least, I would have brought the report for 2024 or 2025. We gave you the opportunity, but you did not continue. I think you should have had this data. Even if you do not, I have a proposal: answer the questions we have asked by Friday,” Bajrami said.

He added that Shabani should apologize for the way he communicated and referred to remarks that, according to Bajrami, linked the discussion to Serbia. “You cannot come to a committee and say that you know why we called you, linking the issue to Serbia. These are unnecessary discussions and make me think you have a political bias. Will you tell us which political party you belong to?” Bajrami said.

Shabani replied that he was a member of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), stressing that he had been elected to the Council by the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo.

“I apologize for my emotions at the beginning. I am now speaking as a Council member and in my personal capacity. I have held this position for six years and have even faced an attempt by the Assembly to dismiss me. I was elected by the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo with 55 votes. We can take all the decisions to court, and when I was chair of a panel, the court overturned decisions,” Shabani said.

He added: “As for the party, I am very proud to belong to the Democratic Party of Kosovo. I am also proud that my work on the Council does not please Vetëvendosje MPs.”

The debate also turned to the Council’s quorum. Vetëvendosje MP Arbëreshë Kryeziu-Hyseni asked KPMShCK chair Arben Mehmeti whether the body currently met the requirements to hold meetings, form panels and review complaints.

“I am asking whether the Council currently has a quorum to hold meetings, appoint panels and review complaints,” Kryeziu-Hyseni said.

Mehmeti replied that she knew the law because she had voted for it herself. “MP, you should not ask this question, because you know the law and voted for it,” he said.

Kryeziu-Hyseni objected, saying that although she knew the law, Mehmeti might not want to implement it because he was comfortable with the way the Council currently operated.

“I know the law, but I am asking you. Do I not know the law, or do you not know it? Perhaps I know the law and so do you, but you do not want to acknowledge it because it suits you to operate this way,” she said.

During the meeting, Arben Mehmeti announced that his term had ended on January 25, 2025.

“My term expired on January 25, 2025,” Mehmeti said.

Democratic League of Kosovo MP Armend Zemaj responded by referring to the period when Albin Kurti had served as prime minister without a new mandate.

“Albin Kurti stayed on for two years without a mandate, and the sky did not fall. You, Albulena, could also serve as acting head for 10 years,” Zemaj said.

Democratic Party of Kosovo MP Ganimete Musliu criticized the way the reporting session had been organized. She said the invitation had specified neither the period to be covered nor the topics to be discussed.

“When an institution is invited outside its regular reporting schedule, the time period or the issues to be covered should be specified. In this case, the invitation should at least have said that the Council’s functioning would be discussed,” Musliu said.

She added that the Council representatives had arrived without knowing exactly what they were expected to report on. “I commend you for having the courage to come without knowing what you were coming here for. If I were in your place, I would return 304 emails a day to find out what we were going to discuss. Today you have come up the mountain without an axe, and if you manage to make it, I commend you,” she said.

Alliance MP Albana Bytyqi also criticized the government. She said she hoped the Council had been called before the committee to make it functional, rather than for the institution to be politically captured.

“I hope the aim is to help make the Council functional, not for the government to try to capture yet another institution, one that plays an important role in protecting civil servants,” Bytyqi said.

She added that the Council faced many challenges and warned the government not to feel secure, saying it could find itself out of office.

Vetëvendosje MP Egzon Azemi raised concerns about the lengthy review of complaints. He cited a case submitted on November 6, 2025, which received a response after around 267 days, while another complaint had received a response within 45 days, the official deadline.

“On what basis are cases being selected this way?” Azemi asked.

The KPMShCK representatives replied that the time taken to review a case depends on its nature and content.

Alban Bajrami also criticized the fact that, according to him, the Council had not reported to this committee since 2023. He said its representatives should have brought concrete data on the institution’s work.

“Reporting to this committee is done regularly once a year, but the Council can also be invited several times. You should have appreciated the fact that we called you, since you have not reported since 2023. It is as if you exist in a parallel world,” Bajrami said.

Albana Bytyqi responded that there had been no government for two years and, as a result, the Council had not had the opportunity to be invited to report.

“There was no government for two years, so there was no opportunity to invite you,” Bytyqi said.

Bajrami countered that her party had repeatedly called for elections during those two years.

“In response, your party repeatedly called for elections during those two years,” Bajrami said.