Kosovo political parties fined for breaking electoral rules
Voters registering for the 17 November Kosovo-wide election. (Lubomir Kotek/OSCE) Photo details
PRISTINA, 15 October 2001 (OSCE) - Three political entities that broke Kosovo's election rules have been fined by the Election Complaints and Appeals sub Commission (ECAC).
In the first rulings of this year's campaign the ECAC fined the AAK and the PDK 250 DM each for not giving police the 120 hour notice needed to hold a campaign rally. The PDK faced a second charge of not giving adequate notice to police about a rally, but was only given a warning; this is because that incident happened before the election campaign had started and it appeared there was some confusion about whether the same notice had to be given to police.
"The message is clear," said ECAC Commissioner Adriaan Stoop. "If any political entity does not give adequate notification of its rallies, it will be sanctioned."
In another ruling the Turkish People's Party of Kosovo - which was not certified by the Central Election Commission to contest the election - has been fined 1,000 DM. This was for fraudulently collecting signatures for its certification application.
People who complained said they were misled into signing the form; one person was told that signing would support a job application.
The Election Complaints and Appeals sub Commission has been established to ensure that the electoral rules are followed during the election period. It will continue to hear, and rule on, complaints until the electoral process is complete. Any one who believes his or her electoral rights have been violated can lodge a complaint.
In the first rulings of this year's campaign the ECAC fined the AAK and the PDK 250 DM each for not giving police the 120 hour notice needed to hold a campaign rally. The PDK faced a second charge of not giving adequate notice to police about a rally, but was only given a warning; this is because that incident happened before the election campaign had started and it appeared there was some confusion about whether the same notice had to be given to police.
"The message is clear," said ECAC Commissioner Adriaan Stoop. "If any political entity does not give adequate notification of its rallies, it will be sanctioned."
In another ruling the Turkish People's Party of Kosovo - which was not certified by the Central Election Commission to contest the election - has been fined 1,000 DM. This was for fraudulently collecting signatures for its certification application.
People who complained said they were misled into signing the form; one person was told that signing would support a job application.
The Election Complaints and Appeals sub Commission has been established to ensure that the electoral rules are followed during the election period. It will continue to hear, and rule on, complaints until the electoral process is complete. Any one who believes his or her electoral rights have been violated can lodge a complaint.