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Parties certified for Kosovo municipal elections
PRISTINA 3 July 2000
PRISTINA, 3 July 2000 - The Central Election Commision has certified more than 20 political parties as well as independent candidates and citizens initiatives, to run in Kosovo's upcoming municipal elections.
The parties had to meet certain criteria including submitting their applications to the UN Civil Registry Office and signing a statement of conduct. They also had to deposit 100 DM and collect 100 signatures in each municipality in which they want to run.
A total of 267 applications were made by 22 parties, a coalition of six parties, two citizens initiatives and 16 independent candidates.
All the applications were closely scrutinised in order to verify them. This meant 27,000 signatures were checked.
Serious problems were found in two lists - the party which applied for certification under the name of PSHDK-M.K. in Decane/Decani and the PRK in Gjakova/Djakovica. A significant number of signatures were found to be false on both of the parties' lists and the Central Election Commission rejected their applications for certification in these municipalities.
Lesser irregularities were uncovered by field examination in the lists of nine other parties in 11 municipalities. In these cases it was found that one or two signatures were not valid on each list. In these cases the Central Election Commission decided that the parties be given the opportunity to correct the signature list within three days.
The Central Election Commission is determined to ensure that the upcoming elections are free and fair. The investigation into party actions at this early stage of the election is essential. The CEC will maintain its vigilance to ensure that parties and candidates do not violate the electoral rules.
For further information, contact OSCE Spokesperson Roland Bless, tel.: (+381-38) 500-162 or satphone: 871-762-009-948 ext. 260 / mobile: (+389-70) 250-576, e-mail: press@omik.org, //www.osce.org/kosovo/
The parties had to meet certain criteria including submitting their applications to the UN Civil Registry Office and signing a statement of conduct. They also had to deposit 100 DM and collect 100 signatures in each municipality in which they want to run.
A total of 267 applications were made by 22 parties, a coalition of six parties, two citizens initiatives and 16 independent candidates.
All the applications were closely scrutinised in order to verify them. This meant 27,000 signatures were checked.
Serious problems were found in two lists - the party which applied for certification under the name of PSHDK-M.K. in Decane/Decani and the PRK in Gjakova/Djakovica. A significant number of signatures were found to be false on both of the parties' lists and the Central Election Commission rejected their applications for certification in these municipalities.
Lesser irregularities were uncovered by field examination in the lists of nine other parties in 11 municipalities. In these cases it was found that one or two signatures were not valid on each list. In these cases the Central Election Commission decided that the parties be given the opportunity to correct the signature list within three days.
The Central Election Commission is determined to ensure that the upcoming elections are free and fair. The investigation into party actions at this early stage of the election is essential. The CEC will maintain its vigilance to ensure that parties and candidates do not violate the electoral rules.
For further information, contact OSCE Spokesperson Roland Bless, tel.: (+381-38) 500-162 or satphone: 871-762-009-948 ext. 260 / mobile: (+389-70) 250-576, e-mail: press@omik.org, //www.osce.org/kosovo/