KoSSev interview with Alojz Peterle, Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Kosovo.

We are aware of pressure exerted on candidates and political entities and have been meeting with candidates and political entities concerned. The EU EOM has received credible reports about politically motivated dismissals of public workers. Pressure on candidates and voters in Kosovo Serb majority communities has restrained campaign activities of entities competing with the Srpska Lista and its candidates. The Final Report states that the elections were competitive and generally peaceful, but that the electoral process was negatively influenced by an insufficient response to violence and intimidation in places where Kosovo Serbs live. Within the Kosovo Serb community, the campaign environment was marred by a deep pattern of intimidation, and instances of violence from within the Kosovo Serb community against candidates and voters, as well as insufficient response from law enforcement agencies.

This included pressure on individual candidates to withdraw and recurrent violent incidents specifically targeting political parties and candidates challenging the dominance of Srpska Lista. We will continue to closely monitor reports of pressure on candidates and voters in all 38 municipalities, including in Kosovo Serb majority communities. EU election observation missions yet do not interfere in the organisation of the election itself. Instead, they collect and analyse factual information concerning the election process and provide an independent expert assessment which is made public. This is an excerpt of the answers exclusively provided by Alojz Peterle, Chief Observer EU EOM Municipal and Mayoral Elections Kosovo 2017 to KoSSev.

The interview was conducted through emails.