Kosovo candidates' finances available for public scrutiny
On 26 October, Kosovo will hold its second municipal elections, organized by the OSCE. (Lubomir Kotek/OSCE) Photo details
PRISTINA, 25 September 2002 - Elections in Kosovo are reaching a new level of transparency this year with strict financial reporting requirements for candidates. This information will be available through 24 October to political parties, non-governmental organizations, civil society groups and any individual interested in researching the background of the candidates.
"This is the first time in Kosovo that candidates have been required to file such a statement", said Susan Carnduff, Director of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo's Department of Election Operations. "Kosovo's electorate is the primary beneficiary of this process, and it is in the public's interest to take an active role in ensuring the integrity of their elected officials."
On 26 October, voters in Kosovo will be electing municipal assemblies for a four-year mandate. The assemblies and their members will be responsible for a wide range of financial decisions and transactions dealing with public money.
For this reason, Kosovo's Central Election Commission (CEC) passed a financial disclosure rule so voters are aware of how political entities are financed, where they get their income and what are the personal financial interests of members of future municipal assemblies. The disclosure requirements allow voters to know before they vote if the candidates will have any conflicts of interest between their personal business and their public decision making.
Anyone can read the reports by going to a Municipal Election Commission office. Additionally, the reports of all candidates are available to the public at OSCE Headquarters in Pristina in the offices of Political Party Services.
After the elections, the reports of the winning candidates will continue to be available at MEC offices.
Individuals who applied to be candidates for the Municipal Elections were required to report to the OSCE on their income, assets and debts; of those registering, 53 candidates were not certified by the CEC for failing to submit the financial disclosure form.
"This is the first time in Kosovo that candidates have been required to file such a statement", said Susan Carnduff, Director of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo's Department of Election Operations. "Kosovo's electorate is the primary beneficiary of this process, and it is in the public's interest to take an active role in ensuring the integrity of their elected officials."
On 26 October, voters in Kosovo will be electing municipal assemblies for a four-year mandate. The assemblies and their members will be responsible for a wide range of financial decisions and transactions dealing with public money.
For this reason, Kosovo's Central Election Commission (CEC) passed a financial disclosure rule so voters are aware of how political entities are financed, where they get their income and what are the personal financial interests of members of future municipal assemblies. The disclosure requirements allow voters to know before they vote if the candidates will have any conflicts of interest between their personal business and their public decision making.
Anyone can read the reports by going to a Municipal Election Commission office. Additionally, the reports of all candidates are available to the public at OSCE Headquarters in Pristina in the offices of Political Party Services.
After the elections, the reports of the winning candidates will continue to be available at MEC offices.
Individuals who applied to be candidates for the Municipal Elections were required to report to the OSCE on their income, assets and debts; of those registering, 53 candidates were not certified by the CEC for failing to submit the financial disclosure form.