The Kosovo Institute for Justice (IKD) has published the report “Good Governance and Rule of Law in the Programs of Political Parties for the December 28 Elections.”

According to this report, none of the political programs of LVV, PDK, LDK, or AAK offer a comprehensive, structured, and measurable approach to advancing good governance and the rule of law.

IKD explains that the assessment was carried out using 10 indicators, divided into two main pillars related to good governance and the rule of law. In terms of good governance, gender equality, transparency and accountability, depoliticization of the public administration, digitalization, and media independence were evaluated. The five indicators related to the rule of law include judicial reform, anti-corruption measures, integrity in public procurement, judicial vetting, and human rights.

IKD researcher Gëzim Shala stated at a Tuesday press conference that based on these indicators and the overall 50-point scoring system, AAK ranks first with 13 points, followed by LDK with 11 points, LVV with 9 points, and PDK comes last with 6 points. The Social Democratic Initiative was not scored at all, as it had not published a governance program.

“In terms of good governance, unlike the rule of law, political parties have generally addressed slightly more areas. This includes especially digitalization, which is covered somewhat more extensively in party programs. However, key issues such as government transparency and accountability, depoliticization of the public administration, and media independence remain mostly unaddressed or are treated only in a limited or declarative manner. In the rule of law area, the findings are even more concerning. Party programs do not provide clear visions for reforming the justice system. Important issues such as judicial vetting, anti-corruption, and integrity in public procurement are almost entirely absent from the programs. Even where some elements are mentioned, they remain largely declarative and without structured concrete measures. For example, judicial vetting is not mentioned by any of the four programs, despite being one of the most debated reforms in the rule of law field,” he added.

Based on this report, IKD Executive Director Ehat Miftaraj stated that political parties are using this strategy to avoid accountability.

“Apparently, this is also a strategy of political parties to avoid accountability. Tomorrow, if we want to measure their work, if these political parties come to power, we cannot do so based on their political programs, because these obligations are not included in them. We must measure their work based on what they have declared in TV debates and what they promised in the election campaign. For serious political parties aspiring to lead a state, under no circumstances should a political program be this weak,” Miftaraj emphasized.

The early parliamentary elections will be held on December 28. Currently, political parties are on the seventh day of the election campaign.