The Committee on Human Rights, Gender Equality, Labor, Family, Values of the Liberation War and Petitions has approved the Draft Budget Law for 2026 between two readings.
Six majority MPs voted for the draft law, while four opposition MPs voted against it.
The proposal by PDK MP Sala Jashari to equalize the pensions of several categories, including veterans, with the minimum wage was debated in the committee.
"The pensions of veterans, old age and people with disabilities, the blind, are removed from the minimum wage of Kosovo. We know that the minimum wage has increased to 425 euros, while these people still have a pension of 170-180 euros. How possible is it that we together as a committee can create an amendment through which we request an increase... If we can then cooperate in this regard, we have until tomorrow at 12:00 if we want to send an amendment as a committee," she said.
Support for this amendment was provided by LDK MP Armend Zemaj.
"It is a violation of human rights. If those respected and necessary categories that the deputy mentioned and this amendment is ready, we can discuss it as a committee and give support as a committee or not. This should not limit us, since the main essence of this committee is human rights," he said.
Meanwhile, AAK MP Albana Bytyqi said that in addition to this amendment, an amendment for people with autism should also be included.
"I don't see anything that needs to be voted on in this budget because we also have amendments to prepare, except for MP Jashari who said it and I completely agree. I also want another amendment to be prepared for people with autism," she said.
However, LVV MP Sali Zyba said that the accelerated deadlines for the 2026 budget oblige them to approve it, without additional discussions.
According to him, as soon as the budget comes up for review, they will take into account the amendments regarding the issue of veterans' pensions.
"The accelerated deadlines with a majority vote in the Assembly oblige us to review and approve or not this budget. Other discussions, now also yesterday's topics related to various laws, expressed willingness to supervise and review the laws and find bottlenecks as a committee. However, today with proposals outside the agenda, we can change something, but I had asked the budget that the eventual proposals have had a deadline until now. These are accelerated deadlines," he said.
On the other hand, PDK MP Artan Behrami asked the commission to consider the possibility of a visit to The Hague to former KLA leaders who are being tried by the Special Court.
"A visit of the Human Rights Commission to the Specialist Chambers in The Hague should be organized as soon as possible and urgently. In the past, a practice has been established where the commission has also visited the leaders of the KLA, but has also discussed with representatives of this court. It is vital that this commission once again addresses all the concerns of the leaders of the KLA that have to do with and are related to human rights. I also propose that those who have gone through this process be invited to this commission to get their impressions regarding the lack of respect for human rights in this court. A report of the commission should also be created here that will be shared with international organizations that deal with human rights," he said.
This proposal was also supported by other members of this committee. /kp/
