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Election complaints procedure established in Kosovo
PRISTINA 5 May 2000
PRISTINA, 5 May 2000 - Severe sanctions have been drawn up for people and political parties who violate electoral rules in Kosovo. The second official meeting of the OSCE-organized Central Election Commission (CEC) agreed to procedures and penalties which would be set in motion with complaints about the electoral process.
As part of its efforts to ensure free, fair and informed elections the CEC agreed to establish a Complaints and Appeals Sub-Commission. This Sub-Commission will be headed by an international chief commissioner and two Kosovar deputy commissioners. Members of the CEC have been invited to propose candidates. It will be their job to decide on written complaints who believe there have been campaign violations. These breaches would include bribing or threatening voters, carrying weapons at political meetings, using language which incites hatred or voter fraud.
The Sub-Commission will receive complaints in writing. All parties will have an opportunity to respond and the sub Commission may order a hearing, where witnesses would be called and evidence presented.
If the Sub-Commission finds that the electoral rules have been violated it can order that action be taken to remedy the complaint. It can also impose a fine of up to 10,000 DM. Tougher penalties cannot be imposed by the Sub-Commission. Only the Chairperson of the CEC, after consulting with the CEC as a whole, can rule that: candidates could be removed from the candidates' list or political parties could be excluded from the election, if they are found to have contravened the electoral rules. In the most serious of cases a political party, coalition or candidate could be barred from taking part in elections for up to six years.
The establishment of a complaints procedure shows a clear determination by the CEC to have a quick and decisive response to complaints about the behaviour or parties or candidates, which is crucial in the electoral process.
For further information, contact Press and Public Information of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, tel.: +381 38 500 162 ext. 118, 218, 260, 342. Satphone: 871 762 009 948. Fax: +381 38 500 188. Satfax: 871 382 425 022. Roland Bless, Spokesperson, mobile + 389 70 250 576. By e-mail: press@omik.org. Website: //www.osce.org/kosovo
As part of its efforts to ensure free, fair and informed elections the CEC agreed to establish a Complaints and Appeals Sub-Commission. This Sub-Commission will be headed by an international chief commissioner and two Kosovar deputy commissioners. Members of the CEC have been invited to propose candidates. It will be their job to decide on written complaints who believe there have been campaign violations. These breaches would include bribing or threatening voters, carrying weapons at political meetings, using language which incites hatred or voter fraud.
The Sub-Commission will receive complaints in writing. All parties will have an opportunity to respond and the sub Commission may order a hearing, where witnesses would be called and evidence presented.
If the Sub-Commission finds that the electoral rules have been violated it can order that action be taken to remedy the complaint. It can also impose a fine of up to 10,000 DM. Tougher penalties cannot be imposed by the Sub-Commission. Only the Chairperson of the CEC, after consulting with the CEC as a whole, can rule that: candidates could be removed from the candidates' list or political parties could be excluded from the election, if they are found to have contravened the electoral rules. In the most serious of cases a political party, coalition or candidate could be barred from taking part in elections for up to six years.
The establishment of a complaints procedure shows a clear determination by the CEC to have a quick and decisive response to complaints about the behaviour or parties or candidates, which is crucial in the electoral process.
For further information, contact Press and Public Information of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, tel.: +381 38 500 162 ext. 118, 218, 260, 342. Satphone: 871 762 009 948. Fax: +381 38 500 188. Satfax: 871 382 425 022. Roland Bless, Spokesperson, mobile + 389 70 250 576. By e-mail: press@omik.org. Website: //www.osce.org/kosovo