Podujevo elections: Parties still no candidate for chairman

Thirty-five days have remained until the day of extraordinary elections for the mayor of the Podujevo municipality.

In the town where even now the mayor was Agim Veliu of the Democratic League of Kosovo, extraordinary elections will be held.

This is after Chairman Veliu has resigned from this post, following his appointment of Kosovo's interior minister in the Kurti Government.

Veliu was elected chairman of the Podujevo municipality in 2017, while his mandate ends at the end of 2021.

The candidate, who will win the extraordinary elections in Podujevo, will continue Veliu's mandate.

But, so far, the parties have not appointed the candidate, who will represent in these elections.

The Vetevendosje movement, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo and the Social Democrat Party have yet to decide who will run in Kosovo's extraordinary elections.

VVA spokesman Arlind Manjuka has said that it is not yet scheduled who will be the candidate of this Podujevo chairmanship party.

- Not yet, Manjuka said.

Even AAKA has not yet decided who he will compete with in the extraordinary elections in Podujevo, AAKA spokesman, Xhemaili Conception, has said.

“Not yet”, Xhemaili said, meanwhile, when it is expected to be decided who the candidate will be, Xhemaili said there is no information.

The Social Democrat Party, which in the 6 October elections failed to get enough votes to become part of the Kosovo Assembly, has not yet decided whether it will be part of the extraordinary elections in Podujevo.

PSDA spokeswoman Nature Kuci has told Express that at the PSD's leadership meeting, which will be held this Monday, it will be decided whether this party will have a candidate for Podujevo chairman.

Express has also tried to take a position by the LDK and the PDK, to know if they have placed the candidate name with which they intend to take power in Podujevo, but officials of these parties have not responded.

Meanwhile, the Central Election Commission has begun the necessary procedures for the extraordinary elections for the chairman of Podujevo.

CECA spokesman Valmir Elezi has told Express that the budget plan for the extraordinary elections for the mayor of the Podujevo municipality, to be held on 15 March 2020, has been adopted.

The planned budget for this election is 491 thousand and 517 euros. This is just planning, but how much the exact cost of these elections will be we can only know after completing the entire process. Conform legal obligations, the approved budget is planned for both rounds”, Elez said.

Elez has indicated that the budgetary demand is sent to the Government of Kosovo, as 2020 is not an election year and the CEC has no scheduled means for elections.

The largest stake in this budget, that is 80% of it, is planned for the production of electoral material (competitions, municipal list of voters, electoral forms; supply of electoral material; payments for the Municipal Election Commission; members of the decision-making councils, other aid staff, trainers, staff engaged in the QNR; and other activities introduced to the operational plan.”, Elez said.

Elez has indicated that the application of political subjects and candidates has started from February 8th and will be open until February 17th.

The application of political subjects and candidates begins on February 8th and February 17, 2020. The draw of lots for ranking political subjects and candidates in the ballot will be held on March 2nd 2020. The period of application for registered voters outside Kosovo begins on February 16th and ends on February 23rd 2020. The period of voting through mail begins on March 3rd and ends on March 13, 2020. The period of application to register voters with special needs begins on February 26th and ends on March 1, 2020”, Elezi indicated.

Meanwhile, he has also shown the election campaign process, which will begin on March 3rd.

Elez has also talked about the deadline for application for accreditation of observers of political subjects and NGOs in the CEC.

The electoral campaign for political subjects and candidates begins on March 3rd and ends on March 13th 2020. The deadline for application for accreditation of political subject and NGO observers begins on February 14th and ends on March 10, 2020. The deadline for application of international election and media observers begins on February 14th and ends on March 12, 2020. The period for forming the Municipal Election Commission begins on February 8th and ends on February 14, 2020. The period for formation of the Local Councils begins on February 25th and ends on March 6, 2020”, Elez stressed.

Meanwhile, the electoral system envisions that the municipal assembly does not need to go to the polls, but only goes to the election as mayor.