MECs in north were not appointed by CEC

(KTV)

Municipal election commissions (MECs) in northern municipalities were not appointed by the Central Elections Commission (CEC). KTV learned that the names that were approved by CEC, actually came from the OSCE, and they did not go through the verification procedures at CEC. The Election Operation Board chairperson at CEC says that they came from the Serbian government.

These are ballot samples of the November 3 local elections. They contain names of the most famous world footballers, but in fact it is expected that they will be replaced with names of candidates for mayors, including four Serb majority municipalities. This is the format which has been approved by CEC, while CEC officials did not rule out the possibility that ballots in the north may be different from those in the rest of municipalities.

Chairperson of Election Operation Board Alban Krasniqi said, “Regarding the issue whether the logo should be included, I think that the chairperson and other members who can promote this issue are well aware that those things have been clearly defined by the Constitution and by law. This is an official document of the Republic of Kosovo, of CEC, a permanent and independent institution which derived from the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. Having in mind that we include the logo even in the simplest documents, imagine if it is removed.”

In fact, this may happen when a working group which has been established by CEC signs a technical agreement with the OSCE. The group which was proposed by CEC chairperson, is chaired by the chairperson herself, and it also consists of PDK, LDK, AAK, and SLS members of CEC.

But civil society addressed criticism for the group, which it refers to as non-transparent. “According to some reports, they stayed in Albania for several days, but they have not brought any document how far have negotiations with the OSCE reached in this aspect,” Valmir Ismaili of the Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) said.

KTV did not receive any response from the OSCE with regard to details of the agreement, or if the agreement subsequently will specify ballots or documents that will be used for voting.

“The OSCE will conduct the operational role required to effectively facilitate the election process, in line with technical requirements on the ground, and the understanding reached by Pristina and Belgrade in Brussels,” an OSCE response reads.

However, if it happens that the state logo is removed, CEC members and the CEC chairperson might face justice. “We will send them to court. Depending on the violations, we will decide if the case should initially be sent to the Constitutional Court or as a serious criminal offence. The chairperson is a judge, and she is well aware of what a serious criminal offence is; that can even be considered as espionage or betrayal of the country,” Alban Krasniqi said.

Meanwhile, KTV learned that MECs in northern municipalities were not appointed by CEC. The names with the list of Serbs came from the OSCE, while CEC only approved them formally, without going through the verification procedures. This was also confirmed by chairperson of Election Operation Board. “They were brought through the OSCE, and seemingly those names came from the Serbian government as nominations. They were brought by the OSCE, and then with a very short process, without any discussion they were approved by CEC,” Krasniqi said.

Concerning these failures, Krasniqi mostly blames CEC chairperson, who became part of the talks.

It was impossible to contact Valdete Daka.

A unified Serb list may undermine democracy

(TV21)

The possibility that Serbs might participate in the November 3 local elections with a unified election list has caused various reactions. Election experts consider that it would undermine democracy in the country.

Former CEC Chief Executive Officer Mazllum Baraliu said that if Serbs get well organised to vote, they may cause electoral unbalance.

“They may create certain unbalances in demographic relations, in relation with other communities, namely with Albanian, Bosniak, and with other communities in that area. There might be precipitations that can be orchestrated or potentially be organised with certain purposes by the Serbian government, despite the fact and its willingness for negotiations with Kosovo,” Mr Baraliu said.

Civil society also believes that this would create municipalities that would have a larger number of counsellors from a single political entity, which would undermine democracy. This was stated by Leon Malazogu of Democracy for Development.

Petrit Zogaj of FOL Movement says that if it is decided that an ethnicity has a totality of political organisation within a political party or coalition, it represents violation of Kosovo’s constitutional foundation.

Civil society warns that the exact number of eligible Serb voters must be known; otherwise, lists may be manipulated and exaggerated.

Ambassador Jacobson urges Kosovo Serbs to go to polls

(Klan Kosova)

U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Tracey Ann Jacobson spoke about 3 November elections. In an interview with ‘Razgovor’ show of Radio and Television of Kosovo 2 (RTK2) she called on the north Serbs to massively turn out in elections.

Ambassador Jacobson considers that Belgrade’s call to Kosovo Serbs to accept Kosovo local elections as a good signal.

Jacobson said that she expects to see a high turnout of Serbs in these elections and vote for the preferable candidates, who would govern in the best way possible in the four municipalities beyond Ibër River. According to her, Kosovo Serbs will have an opportunity to choose their legitimate representatives who will be internationally recognized.

Serbian PM Dacic cannot vote in Kosovo

(RTK)

Despite announcements, the Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic will not be able to exercise his right to vote in 3 November local elections in the Republic of Kosovo. Kosovo law on local elections does not provide this right to him.

Article 12, Point 12.2 of this law determines that the voter has the right to vote only in the municipality where he or she is registered as permanent citizen, unless provided otherwise by law.

Minister of returns and communities at the Kosovo government Dalibor Jevtic said that it is impossible for the Prime Minister of the neighbouring country, Serbia, Ivica Dacic to exercise his right to vote in Kosovo.

Jevtic also underlined that besides Kosovo documents, residents will also be able to vote with other identification documents. According to him, this was provided by the Kosovo-Serbia Agreement reached in Brussels.

Kosovo government denies existence a list of Serbs to be arrested

(Klan Kosova, KTV)

Through a press release, Kosovo Government stated that it did not possess a list of Serb people from the north to be arrested, as it was speculated by Serbian media.

“Such speculations are against the spirit of normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, and they hinder implementation of the agreement to normalize relations, reached in April this year. As such, this disinformation disseminated on the media is not for the good of citizens of Kosovo nor Serbia. The Republic of Kosovo respects legal order and international standards in all criminal proceedings initiated in accordance with procedures established by the applicable legislation”, the Government’s press release reads.

Vetëvendosje submits Law on Budget to Constitutional Court

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Another law has been submitted to the Constitutional Court by Vetëvendosje Movement. Vetëvendosje believes that Article 2 of the Law on Amending 2012 Budget is in contradiction with the Constitution. This Article deals with revenues from the two customs points in the north and it is dedicated to the Fund for north.

According to Albana Fetoshi of Vetëvendosje, Article 2 of the Law creates disorders to the fiscal and financial system in Kosovo. She added that earlier, such funds were unacceptable for the government.

Vetëvendosje’s caucus leader Visar Ymeri said that creation of the Fund for north, which is not part of the April agreement but derives from the implementation plan, was a parallel budget that is in contradiction with the Constitution.

In addition to Vetëvendosje caucus, this request was also supported by MPs Agim Kuleta, Muhamet Mustafa, and Emin Gerbeshi.