Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi announced a major change in the way public administration hirings are conducted.

Instead of going to the Finance Minister for approval, in the future, managers of public institutions will simply have to inform that they have provided the needed funding, and can go ahead with the hiring. So far, the Finance Ministry would put the brakes on reckless hiring.

The move comes just ahead of the double elections planned for next year. It’s widely speculated that it’s meant to ease the hiring of DUI and SDSM party loyalists, in exchange for their votes.