Serbia has interfered in Kosovo’s electoral process, says the head of the European Union Election Observation Mission in Kosovo (EOM), Nathalie Loiseau. She says that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and other officials from Belgrade, have put pressure, so the citizens would vote for a certain list.
In an interview for KosovaPress, Loiseau also criticizes the US envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell, for his statements during the election campaign in the country.
Grenell had written that “Kurti’s rhetoric claiming to be close to the US is completely false”. “Don’t be fooled”, he had said.
Loiseau describes these statements not only as interference but also “shocking”.
“There are positive aspects, firstly there is a variety of lists, including in the north, so there are many options for voters, and voters coming from outside Kosovo will be able to vote easily as in previous elections, despite the rumors. I would be more negative about the reports of pressure coming from Serbia to vote for a certain list. We have heard Serbian officials supporting a certain list, which is interference in the electoral process. We also witnessed interference by the US special envoy, [Richard] Grenell, and this is unfortunate, shocking and undiplomatic. We have regularly heard [Serbian] President Vucic, but also other members of the Serbian government or parliament, telling voters that they should vote for a certain list, and this should not have happened,” she said.
She criticizes the ruling party, the Vetevendosje Movement, and the language used during the election campaign.
