Very low-taking: DnV considers voting in the north a failure

In many polling stations, conditions are not met to ensure free vote, while adding that these votes are failed in terms of citizens' participation, Ismet Kryeziu has declared from Democracy to Action (DnV).

He considers these votes to be failed because of the low citizens' turnout to exploit their right to vote for or against the dismissal of mayors in four northern municipalities. He says Serbian citizens are the victim of the Serbian List and Belgrade.

He said the centres have been opened over time, however, there has been no interest in citizens.

The “is a quiet process, normally there are its technical and organisational problems in this process that began from yesterday when the CEC is late setting up polling stations. And at these polling stations it has failed to inform citizens of enough time where these polling stations are. In most centres, there are no preliminary signs that potentially direct citizens to where these polling stations are. I think technical signs like this center, locations are assigned to the fourth floor, are not enough conditions for disabled people, where people with a certain age of difficulty. Normally spaces in some centres, which on the last day have been decided to be polling stations are not enough to ensure free and fair votes take into account narrow spaces”, he said.

Another problem, Kryeziu adds, is the way to put cameras in the polls.

The way the ballot box or the box it should be voted on, I think it's exposed to these cameras, but also the commissionors in these narrow spaces. And that's what we think is optimistic and doesn't guarantee the secret of vote”, he added.

According to him, the Serbian List has influenced citizens to have turnout down in the voting process.

“We are talking about 100 citizens until the last information we have, in all Kosovo municipalities. I believe that this appearance in this form or in this form will reach any percentage of how the process is going ... Serbian citizens in this case are victims of politics, but also victims of the Serbian List of Belgrade's politics, but also of the Government of Kosovo, which has not done enough to address these questions”, he said.

Furthermore, Kryeziu stresses that these votes are failed in terms of citizens' voter turnout.

“in a legal way, largely met the legal criteria for organisation, but as a turnout is failed. We have even earlier called on the CEC to cancel this process. Taking into account the financial cost, people's commitment and taking into account indicators for boycotting this” election process, he concludes.

In four municipalities in northern Kosovo, more than 46 thousand citizens are eligible to vote.