Skopje, 6 February 2024 (MIA) — Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani at a press conference Tuesday declined to say whether the government had received requests to dismiss Health Minister Fatmir Mexhiti and Minister of  Information Society and Administration Azir Aliu, given that their party Alliance for Albanians had said earlier in the day that it would propose to Caretaker Prime Minister Talat Xhaferi to dismiss the two from their posts.

Instead, FM Osmani briefly explained the procedure for appointing and dismissing government ministers. He said any such request from the government coalition partners needed to be submitted to the prime minister, who would then forward it to Parliament.

"The government does not appoint and dismiss," he said. "Parliament does. If any of our coalition partners have such a request, they should address it to the prime minister, and then the prime minister decides whether to forward it to Parliament. Parliament tmakes the final decision."

Asked if he would run for President, he said: "These are party decisions. We have not discussed it." mr/