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Smaller parties want election threshold to be at 3 percent (Infopress)

By   /  04/07/2016  /  No Comments

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Over the years, many political parties in Kosovo have failed to make it over the 5 percent election threshold and were dissolved. Representatives of smaller political parties are now calling for a 3 percent election threshold. Gëzim Kelmendi, an independent MP and leader of the political party Fjala, told Infopress that reducing the threshold would be the best way to make room for the smaller parties. “Reducing the threshold to 3 percent and the reform of the election code. This would be much better than having pre-election coalitions. Experiences from previous elections have shown that the people do not prefer coalitions between parties and that the unification of different political parties does not always bring about changes,” Kelmendi said. Avni Klinaku, secretary of the Movement for Unification, a partner in the ruling coalition, told the news website that the high election threshold “is damaging for democracy in Kosovo”.  “I believe the threshold should be reduced to 3 percent. This would create new opportunities and help the democratization of government,” he said. Unlike Kelmendi, Klinaku said he favors coalitions with smaller parties adding that this is positive for democracy. Gjergj Dedaj, leader of the Liberal Party of Kosovo, said coalitions between smaller political parties is welcome. “Now is the right time for opposition parties with Western-European profiles to come together and coordinate their actions. Democracy in Kosovo is suffering from populist and conservative parties that lack ideas and vision for Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic integration,” Dedaj added.

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