The head of the caucus of the Alliance for A New Kosovo, Ibrahim Makoli, who moved the no-confidence vote against the current government, said the proposal was prompted by an institutional crisis in the country.
"The institutional crisis is a consequence of poor management by the former coalition partners, the Democratic League of Kosovo and the Democratic Party of Kosovo," Makoli said, adding that an early election was the best solution to this situation.
Addressing the parliament, PM Thaci, who leads the Democratic Party of Kosovo, said that the current developments, following the departure of Democratic League members from his cabinet, represented a test of democracy and a challenge for Kosovo.
Thaci said that by voting for his cabinet, MPs would show their commitment to the strengthening of democracy and freedom in Kosovo.
The ministers who are members of the Democratic League of Kosovo left the government after Fatmir Sejdiu, the Democratic League leader, stepped down as Kosovo President following the Constitutional Court ruling that he "broke the law by doubling as the head of state and party chief," the German dpa news agency reported today. Sejdiu resigned in mid-September.
Thaci said today that his cabinet did not want such a situation, nor did Kosovo citizens deserve it.
"I am proud of the path on which we have embarked and of the three years of our rule," the premier said.
In attendance at today's session were 101 MPs of the 120-seat parliament.
The passage of a no-confidence vote requires the support of 61 law-makers. In such an event, early polls must be held within 45 days after the dissolution of the parliament.
If the current cabinet survives the no confidence vote, the next motion to this effect cannot be proposed in the next 90 days.