Kosovo’s Assembly has approved revisions to the 2026 budget with 62 votes in favor, endorsing two of the seven proposed amendments. Amendments proposed by opposition lawmakers were not supported.
The changes have sparked debate over funding for 13th-month salaries for public-sector employees, retroactive payments for years of service and the allocation of funds to other priorities.
During the debate ahead of the vote, Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MP Avdullah Hoti described the government’s proposal as a cover for €120 million in funding decisions made at the beginning of the year. He argued that the legislation had both procedural and substantive shortcomings.
Fellow LDK MP Hykmete Bajrami called on the Ministry of Finance to clarify whether the revisions were intended to cover the 13th-month salaries already allocated earlier this year.
Teuta Haxhiu of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) accused Finance Minister Hekuran Murati of using what she described as deceptive tactics in proposing the legal changes.
Murati rejected the accusations, arguing that the 13th-month salary had already been included in the budget and paid, while the current revisions were intended to cover a funding gap created by the early allocation of funds under the budget law.
“The 13th-month salary is предусмотрed in the budget and has been paid. What is happening now is the coverage of the gap resulting from the early allocation, as provided for by the Budget Law. The 13th-month salary for next year will be paid at the beginning of next year,” Murati said.
He added that the amendments would also affect the issue of retroactive payments for years of work experience.
His remarks prompted further criticism from opposition lawmakers. Hoti accused Murati of being the biggest abuser ever to serve in Kosovo’s government and called him a liar.
Hoti and opposition MP Arben Mustafa also criticized the government’s request to distribute dividends from publicly owned companies. Bajrami described Murati’s explanation as “planned misplanning,” while Haxhiu again accused the minister of deception.
€102 million allocated for salaries and retroactive payments
In September, the government approved amendments providing for the reallocation of €102 million to cover 13th-month salaries for public-sector employees and retroactive payments related to the 0.5% annual work-experience allowance, following a Constitutional Court ruling.
The government distributed 13th-month salaries to public-sector employees last year as well.
The work-experience allowance provides additional pay based on years of service. Under the previous system, employees received an increase of 0.5% of their base salary for each year worked. An employee with 10 years of service, for example, would receive an additional 5%.
However, the 2022 Salary Law reduced the rate to 0.25% per year for the first 15 years of service, with the 0.5% rate applying thereafter. The Constitutional Court subsequently ruled the relevant arrangement unconstitutional, prompting citizens to file lawsuits seeking retroactive payments.
Proposal to fund prosthetics for war invalids rejected
One of the most contentious amendments concerned funding for prosthetics for war invalids.
Lawmakers rejected a proposal by the parliamentary committee responsible for social welfare to allocate €1 million for this purpose.
The budget revision debate has highlighted disagreements between the government and opposition over public-sector compensation, the handling of budget allocations and funding for social needs.
