January 14 (SeeNews) - Kosovo's prime minister Avdullah Hoti appointed Muharrem Nitaj as acting minister of economy and environment after the resignation of Blerim Kuci, the economy ministry said.
Nitaj is temporary heading the economy and environment minister after serving as first deputy minister in the ministry of economy and environment, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
The ministry added that Kuci has asked to be released from duty as economy and environment minister "due to his commitments".
Local news agency Kosova Press reported on Wednesday that Kuci has resigned because he intends to be on Alliance for the Future of Kosovo's electoral list for the upcoming elections.
Kosovo’s acting president Vjosa Osmani said earlier in January she has issued a decree to dissolve parliament and set February 14 as the date for early general elections, after a vote on the formation of the government last year was declared invalid.
In June, Kosovo’s parliament elected a coalition government led by Avdullah Hoti of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) on the votes of 61 MPs in the 120-seat legislature.
However, in December the constitutional court said one of the votes - that of Etem Arifi, MP of the Ashkali Party for Integration - was invalid because Arifi had been convicted in 2019.
Thus, the government is not backed by a majority in parliament, the court said, adding that the current government will remain in office until new elections are held.