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OSCE welcomes signing of municipal electoral law in Kosovo
PRISTINA 18 June 2002
PRISTINA, 18 June 2002 - The OSCE Mission in Kosovo welcomes the signing of the regulation on municipal elections by the United Nations Special Representative, Michael Steiner, which lays out the basic provisions governing the elections scheduled for 26 October elections in Kosovo.
The second municipal elections will be held to elect members of Kosovo's thirty municipal assemblies. The size of each assembly is specified in the United Nations Mission in Kosovo Regulation 2000/45. Their term of office will be four years. Each municipality will be considered a separate electoral district.
Seats in municipal assemblies will be allocated in proportion to the number of votes each political party, coalition, citizens' initiative and independent candidate wins. This system aims to ensure maximum inclusiveness for smaller political parties and entities representing Kosovo's communities in municipal governance.
Political entities will submit closed candidate lists for each municipality in which they wish to run. However, there is a requirement whereby at least one in each group of three candidates on the first two-thirds of the list submitted are to be from each gender - in practical terms, this will increase women's representation in municipal governance. On 26 October, voters will only be able to cast their preference for a specific political entity.
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General will certify the results of the municipal elections based on the recommendation of the Central Election Commission, after all ballots have been counted and complaints concerning the electoral process have been dealt with by the Election Complaints and Appeals sub-Commission.
These elections will give Kosovo's voters a chance to elect people who govern political life on the municipal level, which affect people most directly. This is yet another important step towards instilling democratic governance in Kosovo.
The second municipal elections will be held to elect members of Kosovo's thirty municipal assemblies. The size of each assembly is specified in the United Nations Mission in Kosovo Regulation 2000/45. Their term of office will be four years. Each municipality will be considered a separate electoral district.
Seats in municipal assemblies will be allocated in proportion to the number of votes each political party, coalition, citizens' initiative and independent candidate wins. This system aims to ensure maximum inclusiveness for smaller political parties and entities representing Kosovo's communities in municipal governance.
Political entities will submit closed candidate lists for each municipality in which they wish to run. However, there is a requirement whereby at least one in each group of three candidates on the first two-thirds of the list submitted are to be from each gender - in practical terms, this will increase women's representation in municipal governance. On 26 October, voters will only be able to cast their preference for a specific political entity.
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General will certify the results of the municipal elections based on the recommendation of the Central Election Commission, after all ballots have been counted and complaints concerning the electoral process have been dealt with by the Election Complaints and Appeals sub-Commission.
These elections will give Kosovo's voters a chance to elect people who govern political life on the municipal level, which affect people most directly. This is yet another important step towards instilling democratic governance in Kosovo.