To postpone the census requires political decision, Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi has said.
According to him, Parliament adopted a census law regulating among other things deadlines for all stakeholders involved.
“At this point, I think it is nonsense for people to be presenting any kind of views. If someone thinks that it should be postponed, then it requires a political decision, which should be translated into a law,” Speaker Xhaferi tells MIA.
Asked about demands that the census should be postponed for June or July, he doubts that the pandemic will be over by then. “Does anyone has any information that it will be over by June/July so that we can organize headcount or will we once again descend into legal chaos,” he asks.
Accordng to Xhaferi, political commentary as such is not enough for a decision.
“Legislation was adopted. Either everyone will be engaged to implement the law or they will press ahead with what they are saying they will. There are those who say they will collect signatures, while others pledge to implement the law and there’s a third group of people seeking other preconditions. It is becoming a political debate in which as Parliament Speaker I don’t want to be involved. It’s was Parliament’s duty to adopt a law,” Xhaferi tells MIA among other things
According to him, the census law allows the statistical operation to be adequately administered with every citizen to be counted according to the rules.
On comments involving interpretation of the census results as regards members of the ethnic communities, Xhaferi says they serve political goals.
“Everyone wants to cling to power while others are trying to come to power. It is the essence of political organizing. Regarding the census, conditions should be in place regardless of who is in power and who is in opposition because they have the obligation to create preconditions for the citizens to be satisfied with the status, the rights and the opportunities,” says Xhaferi.
