Socialist MP Petro Koçi has resigned as deputy head of the Education Commission after a long stand-off over the Academy of Sciences law.
Koci expressed disappointment at the position of some majority members during the passage of the law in the commission and called the behavior of the SP and DP deputies offensive.
"On July 11th, the Commission's meeting reviewed the draft law initiated by me and Mr. Beqiraj. A project that enjoyed the support of much of the academic community. At the end of the meeting I declared my resignation for two reasons. First, because the bill was not put to a vote with the maneuver of the opposition MPs leaving and reducing the presence until the lack of quorum. Secondly, some majority colleagues maintained equivalous centres enabling the opposition's tactic to overthrow the quorum.
I considered it insulting both the behavior of the optics and that of my colleagues. I don't want to vote for the opposition because I don't want to feel compromised either. But I don't accept voting. This is against rules and norms. The taking of political rifles against Djindjic cannot affect the parliamentary procedure. That's why I declared his reneal. I think such things can't happen without consequence. And my withdrawal is not about the fate of a bill, but the fate of parliamentary procedure and order.
In the position of a simple member of the commissions, I will have the same principled commitment again.
Even if this resignation does not kill the pig in that committee, for me it is important to me the calmness of my political conscience" said MP Koçi.