Minister of Internal Affairs of Kosovo, Flamur Sefaj | Photo: Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kosovo

Kosovo Interior Minister Flamur Sefar has said his sacking on Tuesday was sought by Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj following the controversial arrest and deportation of six Turkish citizens.

Haradinaj said that he had not been duly informed about the “secret and urgent deportation” of the six Turkish nationals.

However, the axed minister’s party, the Alliance New Kosovo, AKR, has defended his conduct, saying in a press release that “the minister was not the decision-making factor for the deportation of the Turks, but only implemented the law.

“Minister Sefaj was not informed about what those persons represent, but only implemented the law, which is applicable when the Kosovo Intelligence Agency assesses that Kosovo’s state security is in jeopardy,” the statement read.

Haradinaj has also requested the dismissal of the head of the Intelligence Agency, Driton Gashi. Howwever, this needs the signature of President Hashim Thaci, who has yet to sign it.

Last week also saw the arrest of the head of the Serbian government’s Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric, for entering Kosovo on Monday despite a ban on his presence.

The arrest prompted the main Kosovo Serbian party in government to go into opposition, depriving the ruling coalition of its narrow majority. Of 61 seats out of 120 in parliament, it now has only 51.

Political analyst Ramush Tahiri said although Haradinaj’s government was now a minority government, its collapse was by no means certain.

“Following the exit of Srpska Lista from the government, this is now a minority government without the 61 votes of MPs it needs to proceed with laws and issues deemed important,” Tahiri told BIRN.

“But the government will not fall unless the Prime Minister resigns or unless the opposition parties muster 61 votes for a no-confidence motion against Haradinaj,” he added.

Tahiri said the country was facing a key week in politics.

“I don’t believe that Haradinaj wants to keep his post at any cost if he does not have the power to make decision,” he said.

However, he said that Lista Srpska might rethink its decision to quit and return to the coalition.

“Lista Srpska had also sought the dismissal of Minister Sefaj, and although that happened for another reason, they might join the ruling coalition,” Tahiri added.

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Turkey and the Balkans