AV ONET blames the CEC, counts the failures

From the count centre in the Ferizaj municipality, Bajrami has stressed that technical problems in the election software that paralysed the process increase citizens' uncertainty about the credibility of the elections. Until the next challenge during monitoring, she has said it is the lack of commissioner training.

At a media conference Friday, Bajrami has stressed that if it continues at the pace of delays counting on MPs, the process could last more than a week.

While considering that this situation is unacceptable.

“As AVONET, we have closely monitored every stage of the elections, particularly monitoring the voting counting process at the Municipal Centre in Ferizaj. Unfortunately, what we've seen on the ground is disturbing and requires urgent response. In two previous statements, we have raised the alarm for the unjustified delay in counting, a direct failure of the CEC to implement legal deadlines. Technical problems in electoral software paralyzing the process, and citizens' uncertainty of election credibility increases. Our monitoring has also revealed the lack of training of commissioners and counting staff. Most of our monitors have reported that commissioners had no basic knowledge of the counting procedures. It was unclear to share their responsibilities and roles, in some cases our observers to intervene to clarify the CEC's rules. This situation is unacceptable”, Bajrami stressed.

The primary responsibility for lack of physical training she has thrown into the CEC.

“We cannot seek precisely the implementation of rules by individuals who are not equipped with the necessary skills to do so, the main responsibility falls on the CEC, which has not provided adequate training, these shortcomings have high costs, challenge public trust in institutions, endanger the destabilisation of the democratic process. The CEC must implement an emergency plan to resolve the technical problems that have blocked the system immediately. For the next election, he has to organise detailed training so that this situation will not be repeated. We will continue our monitoring and seek accountability from responsible institutions, democracy is caution and vigilance. It is noteworthy that an effective practice is being implemented at QKN for candidates in Ferizaj, where observers and commissioners are parallel and are able to see commissioners count votes, this practice has been taken by other municipalities”, she said.

While adding that if it continues at this pace of delays in the Municipal Counting Centre for MPs, it has said the process could last more than a week.

And what we've seen on the ground is quite damaging to the integrity, to the credibility of the elections and the preliminary results, since I don't say that the training has only been on the face and the page and they don't have any effect, they've been short, and we're looking at the result now... If we look at the wider lack of commissioners is spreading the will of citizens to trust political parties from the past if we talk. It is good for political parties to organise training and regain citizens' trust that when you need them to be there... we've been in constant communication with the CEC and we've requested that the software system be adjusted, since yesterday's counting process has begun and there are after numerous delays during the counting process. If we continue at this pace we are now, I believe the process will last no more than a week. That's right”, Bajrami underlined.

In Ferizaj, the party that leads by vote in this municipality is Vetevendosje by about 51 per cent, according to CEC results, followed by the PDK by about 26 per cent.