There were sharp exchanges between the opposition and the government.
Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MP Hykmete Bajrami reacted to the Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship, Trade and Innovation, Mimoza Kusari-Lila.
During the extraordinary session of the Kosovo Assembly, Bajrami said that Kusari-Lila contradicted herself in her remarks.
Addressing Kusari-Lila, Bajrami said that what the minister stated confirms that margins have not been properly set and, according to her, manipulation is continuing.
“Minister, from your very first sentence you contradicted yourself. You have set the margin — 2 cents for retail sales and 12 cents for wholesale. How can you come to the podium and say that you cannot control the outcome if you remove VAT or reduce excise duty? You set the margins. How is it possible that if, per liter of fuel, you accept a measure to remove 20 cents of excise or 16 cents as we proposed, and reduce VAT from 18% to 8%, you claim you cannot ensure this doesn’t turn into profit for traders and importers? Are you setting the margin or not? When someone declares the supply price, you calculate the excise, VAT, and then apply the wholesale and retail margins — 2 cents and 12 cents. So how can this be abused by traders? What you are saying confirms that even today you are not setting margins and that manipulation is continuing. You are also confirming that the law you passed today will not function. Do you know why? Because you have no mechanism,” Bajrami said.
Bajrami also addressed Minister of Health Arben Vitia, saying that he himself had set medicine prices and that they have not been reduced.
Minister of Industry Mimoza Kusari-Lila replied to Bajrami by saying that raising her voice will not bring political gains, adding that this is why LDK has five fewer MPs.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health Arben Vitia told Bajrami that the “millionaires” she mentions were created during the time of the LDK.
