The head of the observation delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Iulian Bulai, presented the preliminary findings following the observation of the early parliamentary elections of 7 June in Kosovo, held for the third time within less than 16 months.
The seven-member PACE delegation, which was the only international mission to observe election day, assessed that the electoral process was conducted in an orderly manner and without major incidents, although it was characterized by voter fatigue and disappointment.
“However, in a country with a history of high voter turnout, the significant decline in voter participation should serve as a serious alarm. In the limited number of polling stations we observed, the delegation found that the elections were conducted in a calm and professional manner. Election officials showed competence and the atmosphere was calm and orderly, while polling stations were effectively managed by both representatives of majority and non-majority communities. However, language difficulties caused by insufficient representation of the community that constitutes the majority in some municipalities created some tensions in certain cases. Equal ethnic representation in local election commissions should be improved. Likewise, the inclusion of multilingualism can be further strengthened. The delegation also noted improvements in the regulation of assistance for voters with specific needs, while physical access to polling stations remains a challenge,” Bulai said.
In conclusion, Bulai congratulated the citizens of Kosovo for their commitment to democracy and called on political leaders to take concrete steps to overcome institutional blockades.
