Daka: Election turnout 41%, process smooth

(Telegrafi)

At the fourth press conference, the Central Elections Commission (CEC) chairperson, Valdete Daka, said that all polling stations throughout Kosovo were closed in time.

Daka said that the election turnout was 759 thousand 549 voters, or 41.45%. She highlighted that the process happened without irregularities that would infringe the integrity of elections.

On behalf of CEC, Daka thanked the observers and other institutions, such as Kosovo Police, State Prosecution, KEDS and the OSCE for their work.

Daka said that according to an OSCE report, there were about 50 cases of double voting in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north, and a group of people, more than ten of them, voted several times in three polling stations.

“However, immediately after the CEC and the observers’ intervention, it was interrupted, and afterwards everything proceeded as envisaged by law,” she concluded.

KFOR provided security to the OSCE personnel in Serb inhabited areas

(Klan Kosova)

KFOR announced that it developed a specific plan for the Election Day, in accordance with the security assessment in order to operate firmly, carefully and impartially, as 3rd responder after KP and EULEX, Klan Kosova portal reported.

“As per OSCE request, KFOR also provided security to the OSCE personnel in the Serb inhabited areas,” reads KFOR’s press release.

“Safe and Secure Environment and Freedom of Movement were ensured by KFOR by deploying more than 1200 soldiers and 250 vehicles Kosovo-wide, including 4 helicopters with medical evacuation facility, of all subordinate units as part of its commitment to support the people of Kosovo shape their own future through the electoral democratic process,” KFOR’s press release concluded.

Kosovo votes for new Assembly

(All monitored broadcasters, RTK1)

The Kosovo Assembly Early elections were held on Sunday, namely the sixth elections since declaration of independence.

From 07:00 in the morning until 19:00 in the evening, Central Election Commission (CEC) kept open 889 polling centres composed of 2490 polling stations. 1,872.471 eligible voters had the opportunity to decide who will govern Kosovo in the next mandate, as well as the future structure of Kosovo Assembly, composed of 120 seats.

Five coalitions, 19 political entities and two civic initiatives ran for seats in the Assembly of Kosovo.

Police and justice institutions earlier warned about strict measures against those who would attempt to hinder or manipulate citizens’ vote.

Through press conferences staged on Sunday, CEC, Prosecution and Kosovo Police called upon all not harm the election process through hate speech and defamation but to enable citizens to vote freely and without pressure.

On the other hand, non-governmental organizations gathered under ‘Democracy in Action” monitored closely the election process and noted irregularities which were present in previous elections as well such as attempt to double-vote, family voting and taking pictures of ballots. But according to them, these did not impact the wellbeing of the election process.

Assembly early elections were monitored by over 29,000 observers of political entities, non-governmental organizations, from the European Union and Embassies accredited to Kosovo.

Exit poll: PAN 40%, VV 30%, LAA 27%, and others 3%

(KTV, Klan Kosova)

Shortly after 19:00hrs Klan Kosova announced its exit poll, stressing that the error margin of it is 1.5 per cent. Director of this TV station, Baton Haxhiu, announced a major change in Kosovo’s political scene.

In the meantime, presenting the exit poll, Shkelzen Maliqi, stressed that the exit poll was prepared by around 50 people. He said that 2.500 people were interviewed.

According to this exit poll, PDK-AAK-Nisma (PAN) coalition got 40 per cent of the votes, Vetëvendosje (VV) 30 per cent, LDK-AKR-Alternativa (LAA) 27%, and others got 3%.

In the meantime, Democracy in Action published results, as it is said, from 87 per cent of the polling stations, Kosovo portals reported.

According to them, these are the following results:

PAN Coalition (PDK-AAK-Nisma) – 33.1%; LAA Coalition (LDK-AKR-Alternativa) – 25.3%; Vetëvendosje – 26.6 %, and Srpska List (GISL) – 4.8%

KTV reported that following the exit poll results, Vetëvendosje followers gathered in Prishtinë/Pristina centre to celebrate their victory. PDK, AAK and Nisma also invited their followers to an event in Prishtinë/Pristina square to celebrate the results and their victory.

Veseli declares his Coalition’s victory

(Kosovo portals)

The PDK leader Kadri Veseli declared victory of “Fillimi i Ri” (“New Beginning”) coalition, and thanked all Kosovo citizens for their turnout in the election process.

In his Twitter reaction, Veseli wrote as follows:

”I thank Kosovo citizens, our Party and Coalition, all international and local observers for successful election. Proud for the victory tonight.”

After PDK, PAN candidate for Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj also announced PAN’s victory in 11 June elections.  According to him, PAN achieved a powerful victory.

“The will of people obliges me to govern the country,” said Haradinaj in a press conference staged after the closure of voting process.

He thanked the partners and invited other political entities to get united for Kosovo’s good.

Djuric: Srpska List has won all ten reserved mandates

(KTV)

Srpska List has won at least 90 per cent of votes in Serb populated areas in Sunday’s early elections in Kosovo and certainly all the 10 guaranteed mandates, KTV portal reported.

This was stated by the Director of the Office for Kosovo at the Serbian Government, Marko Djuric.

Thaçi expects from the election winner to constitute Government soon

(TV21)

President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, said he expects from the winners of Sunday’s elections in Kosovo to constitute the pro-European Government as soon as possible in order to address the immediate priorities.

He made these comments in a post at his account on Twitter social network, TV21 portal reported.

Eight persons arrested for criminal offences during election process

(KTV)

The State Prosecutor’s Office and Kosovo Police announced in the latest press conference that on Sunday several cases were initiated in relation with criminal offences against the right to vote, on which occasion eight persons have been arrested.

Laura Pula, prosecutor, said that the Police and Prosecutor’s Office took all actions for a smooth election process.

According to her, in Prishtinë/Pristina two cases have been initiated against two persons who have been arrested, two cases in Pejë/Pec, one case in Gjilan/Gnjilane, one case in Prizren, and two cases against three persons in Ferizaj/Urosevac.

Naim Rexha of Kosovo Police said that eight persons have been arrested so far, while security situation is normal.

Delawie: The common good must be the goal for Kosovo

(KTV)

U.S Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie congratulated citizens who casted their votes, saying that no matter the final vote count; the common good must be the goal for Kosovo.

“Today was an important step in Kosovo’s democracy. I congratulate all citizens who voted and will stand by your democratic decision. No matter the final vote count, challenges and opportunities remain. The common good, not politics, must be the goal for Kosovo,” wrote Delwaie in his Twitter account.

‘Democracy in Action’ lists irregularities in the election process

(RTK)

“Democracy in Action” a coalition of non-governmental organisations that observed Kosovo Assembly Early Elections, in its conference held one hour before closure of the voting process, listed number of  irregularities they have identified during this process. According to ‘Democracy in Action’ the most noted irregularities are:

117 double-vote attempt cases;

6882 cases of family voting;

197 cases of voters taking picture of casted ballots;

Cases of voting outside voting box or publication of the was votes reported in 67 cases;

Assistance to voters more than one time was noted in 213 cases.

According to the coalition of NGOs, difficulties to identify in Voters’ List were another issue that followed this election process. There were 1203 complaints related to Voters’ Lost.

Additionally, ‘Democracy in Action’ reported presence of unauthorized people in 19 polling centres/stations.

‘Democracy in Action’ called upon all political entities to refrain from celebrating in open spaces pending the preliminary results. It also requested from election managing bodies and observers to guarantee a regular ballot counting process, RTK portal reported.

Situation in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north calm after elections

(Klan Kosova)

After the closure of the voting process, Klan Kosova’s correspondent from Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North, reported that the situation in north is calm and that no political party is celebrating.

According to the correspondent, Srpska List is the biggest winner, while predicting that the newly established Kosovo Serbs’ Party by Aleksandar Jablanovic, might also win an MP seat.

Klan Kosova that reported Marko Djuric, director of the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo visited Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North on Sunday morning to demonstrate Belgrade’s support to Srpska List.