DnV: Political parties have broken the rules of pandemic, keeping gatherings at schools endangers students

At the media conference, in which the DnV's plan for the February 14th elections -- Ismet Kryeziu representative of DnV -- has been called on political parties to respect anti-Convidus measures.

He has also demanded that political parties not hold school meetings, as he put it at risk of infecting students from David-19.

“Political subjects have begun to extend programmes and, given the circumstances of the pandemic, we encourage them to use their political platforms to make the presentation and not risk having meetings at school options. Forbidden party rights to present projects in schools because they could become the source of infections for our children”

Kryeziu has criticised political parties' pressure on the CEC and its chairman, Valdete Daka.

We call on the institutions for the CEC to be allowed to do its job. Don't let Valdete Daka get away either. The law regulates responsibility. So we call for political subjects to follow them for the certificate of candidates”, he added.

“The gender representation is something we've asked you to raise their representation over 30 per cent in both Albania and other countries. We haven't seen this in our parties yet,” has ended Kryeziu.

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Today, the coalition of local organisations to monitor the elections Democracy in Action organised the first conference where structures and components of the DnV monitoring mission were made public for early parliamentary elections on February 14th. Ismet Kryeziu stated that DnV is paying close attention to the pre-preparative period of these elections, since their announcement by the country's president's task plan.

Kryeziu initiated several elements, which were said to have characterised this period, with the emphasis of the election campaign of political subjects prior to the deadline and the lack of proper respect for measures against pandemic in the campaign, CEC independence, abroad voting operation, the Certificate of political subjects and their candidates, and the inclusion of women in the election process.

As for the pre-election campaign, it was estimated that the current practice of disregarding the official election term by political subjects is continuing. Most of them are continuing with the organisation of field activities and meetings, as well as their presence in television debates, already through broadcasting sponsored activities. DnV has noted disrespect for the Government's decisions regarding preventing the spread of pandemic by competitive political subjects in the February 14th elections, for most of the public activities they have developed. Taking into account these, the pre-future period was asked to be first regulated by law, while financing political subjects for the campaign was required to be transparent. In that direction, political subjects and their candidates were also asked to strictly adhere to the CEC's restrictions on campaign spending, as well as to respect legal provisions for the use of public resources, involvement of children and public servants for campaign purposes.

The work of election management troops, the CEC, respectively, was estimated that in some cases it was hampered by political influences. “DnV reminds all the country's institutions, as well as political parties that the CEC is an independent and Collegiant institution whose decisions are taken by the majority of votes of representatives of political parties. DnV underlines the importance of maintaining this institution's independence and integrity and calls for giving up efforts to intervene or exert pressure on the work of the CEC. ” said Kryeziu. DnV also condemned the language used against CEC chairman Valdete Daka, and public links made in its direction, demanding that frustrations over decisions made by the CEC be addressed through mechanisms and complaints procedures.

Regarding yesterday's CEC decision to certificate political subjects and their candidates, it was suggested that the Law for General Elections regulates the responsibility of responsible institutions and mechanisms for obtaining political subjects and candidate lists. So, DnV called on political subjects to follow the initial procedures for certificate.

Under electoral operations, voting abroad has been one of the most controversial elements, mainly for the fact that the number of accepted applications for voter registration abroad is the highest ever recorded. DnV welcomes the diaspora's commitment to mass participation in this election process, but re-focuss the need for this process to be managed in such a way that no space is left for violating the integrity of the election process. Consequently, DnV considers that the CEC's decision, respectively, administrative guidelines for verifying already around 200,000 voters' applications abroad through calls -- although new practice -- is necessary and welcome for increasing the integrity of the election process. DnV also positively praised the CEC's decisions regarding the removal of dead persons, as well as those who have non-valide UNMIK documents from the final voter list. These were said to serve in the avoidance of eventual irregularities stemming from the unprecedented voter lists.

DnV also called on political subjects competing in this election, to place emphasis on presenting their platforms to citizens, and to make the same platforms accessible to the public. In view of the state of the pandemic and inefficiency of the organization of large - number activities of participants, DnV recommends to subjects that the presentation of their political platforms and their candidates do so through digital forms, good practice that is used in other countries as well.

The gender representation on the political subjects' lists has again been assessed, despite continued calls of civil society for implementation of the <x0->zebra” model for equal representation, remains in question of meeting the minimum criteria of 30%. DnV calls for political subjects during the election campaign to provide and ensure equal access to their candidates, men and women, in all election activities, in sharing funds for campaign financing and participation in the media.

As for its observation mission, because of significant advances in election organisation and management, the situation with pandemics, but also with the aim of introducing technology even in election surveying, DnV has decided that these elections are monitored with missions based on methodology known as the Paracle Count (PVT). This advanced and innovative methodology of election monitoring will be realised with technical assistance provided by the Department for International Democratic Institute of National Democratic Affairs (NDI).

DnV's election monitoring facility will consist of 498 short-term election day observers, supported by over 100 other observers serving as mobile teams. While, the campaign period will be covered by 16 long-term observers, who will cover the public activities of political subjects in the seven largest centres, as well as in Serb majority municipalities.

Also, media monitoring will be an important element of the DneV mission by implementing an innovative methodology. DnV, through 10 monitors, will be closely conveyed to television channels, online portals, Facebook pages of political leaders and politicians who will be part of the election campaign, as well as decisions of the Independent Media Council. The gender aspect will be an integrated element in media monitoring to see how much space is offered to women either by political parties, but by the media in their candidacy presentation. In this regard, political subjects were urged not to violate the integrity of the media and put any kind of pressure on them.

DnV is committed to increasing the integrity of the election process through regular, impartial and objective monitoring and reporting to the public. DnV's local election monitoring mission is supported by the German Embassy in Kosovo, USAID Kosovo and the Swiss Embassy in Kosovo.