Newsroom
Number of 'set aside' Kosovo Assembly seats still to be determined
PRISTINA 9 April 2001
PRISTINA, 9 April 2001 - Many media outlets are incorrectly stating that Kosovo's Serbs will have 25 seats in the Assembly which will be set up after Kosovo-wide elections.
The number of seats which any group or party will get is impossible to know until the election is over and the votes have been counted.
The discussions taking place at the moment on the Legal Framework are also looking at 'setting aside' some seats in the Assembly. This is done to ensure that vulnerable minority communities are adequately represented and maybe slightly over-represented in the Assembly. These 'set aside' seats will be in addition to any seat(s) which that minority will win through the ballot box on election day.
The number of 'set aside seats' being allocated to each community is still to be determined.
Kosovo Serbs - individuals, parties and coalitions - will be able to stand for election as will all other Kosovo communities. Under a system of proportional representation the number of seats gained will depend on the number of votes cast. If there is widespread Serb participation, there will be a greater number of seats gained. This is true for all parties contesting the election.
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is committed to holding elections this year, and is preparing the mechanisms which will allow those elections to take place.
For information, contact OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Claire Trevena, Spokesperson, tel: (+381-38) 500-162 x260 / mobile: +377-44-500-150; e-mail: press@omik.org / website: www.osce.org/kosovo
The number of seats which any group or party will get is impossible to know until the election is over and the votes have been counted.
The discussions taking place at the moment on the Legal Framework are also looking at 'setting aside' some seats in the Assembly. This is done to ensure that vulnerable minority communities are adequately represented and maybe slightly over-represented in the Assembly. These 'set aside' seats will be in addition to any seat(s) which that minority will win through the ballot box on election day.
The number of 'set aside seats' being allocated to each community is still to be determined.
Kosovo Serbs - individuals, parties and coalitions - will be able to stand for election as will all other Kosovo communities. Under a system of proportional representation the number of seats gained will depend on the number of votes cast. If there is widespread Serb participation, there will be a greater number of seats gained. This is true for all parties contesting the election.
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is committed to holding elections this year, and is preparing the mechanisms which will allow those elections to take place.
For information, contact OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Claire Trevena, Spokesperson, tel: (+381-38) 500-162 x260 / mobile: +377-44-500-150; e-mail: press@omik.org / website: www.osce.org/kosovo