Parliamentary election in Kosovo 2014

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← 2010/11General election 20142017 →
Share of voters in percent
 %
40
30th
20th
10
0
30.38
25.24
13.59
9.54
5.15
4.67
Gains and losses
compared to 2010/2011
 % p
   6th
   4th
   2
   0
  -2
  -4
-1.73
+0.55
+0.90
-1.50
+5.15
-2.62
16
11
30th
37
26th
16 11 30th 37 26th 
A total of 120 seats
  • VV : 16
  • AAK : 11
  • LDK : 30
  • PDK : 37
  • Otherwise: 26

The early holding of the parliamentary elections in Kosovo 2014 ( Albanian  Zgjedhjet e Përgjithshme në Kosovë 2014 ; Serbian Parlamentarni Izbori na Kosovu 2014 ) became necessary after the parliament of the Republic of Kosovo held an extraordinary session on May 7 on the occasion of a parliamentary advance by 57 members gathered. There was exactly one item on the agenda with the proposal to dissolve parliament . In the vote, 90 MPs were for and four against this proposal; three abstained. This ended the fourth  legislative period of the parliament 2011-2014.

After consultation with the political parties represented in parliament and the Central Electoral Commission, Atifete Jahjaga , President of Kosovo , designated June 8th to hold the early parliamentary elections. On June 26, the election commission published the official results.

Starting position

Hashim Thaçi ( PDK ) has been Prime Minister of Kosovo since 2007. Since 2011 he has led a coalition with minority parties under the leadership of his Democratic Party (PDK) .

Hashim Thaçi ( PDK ) has been Prime Minister of Kosovo since 2011 and headed the government cabinet , which, in addition to the Democratic Party of Kosovo, also includes the Alliance New Kosovo , the Independent Liberal Party (Serb minority party), the Democratic Turkish Party of Kosovo (Turkish minority party) and others political parties of ethnic minorities in the country.

Approaching political subjects

On May 23, 2014, the Central Election Commission published the online version of the official voting slip. Accordingly, 30 political subjects ran for election. The political subjects could register between May 8th and May 16th. All in all, 1235 candidates competed for seats in parliament. Below are all parties with official ballot numbers.

Summary of the largest parties

logo Political party Party leader Political positions
Logo of the PDK Partia Demokratike e Kosovës (PDK) Hashim Thaçi pro-European, inclusive-nationalist and left-liberal
Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Isa Mustafa conservative , socially conservative and economically liberal
Logo of the AKR Alliance New Kosovo (AKR) Behgjet Pacolli liberal
Logo of the AAK Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj conservative and pro-European
Logo of the VV Vetëvendosje! (VV) Albin Kurti protectionist , direct democratic and radical liberal

Election campaign

The election campaign began on May 28th and ended on June 6th.

The following are some of the demands, projects and strategies of individual emerging political parties:

  • Alliance for the future of Kosovo (AAK) : Party chairman Ramush Haradinaj said during an interview that unemployment in the country would be reduced from the current 45 to ten percent. His party is also committed to building the rule of law and fighting corruption and organized crime. He criticized the previous government under Hashim Thaçi. It would have taken "the wrong direction" and ruled the country badly. The election slogan was Drejtim i Ri "New Direction".
  • Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) : Isa Mustafa declared at an election rally that the next government they led would not tolerate the fact that so many young people had to leave Kosovo because of unemployment. The party chairman called for the Democratic Party, which has ruled since 2007, to be ousted. The election slogan of the LDK was Vetëm Ne Mundemi “Only we can”.
  • Strong party (PF) : Visar Arifaj's party had a very specific campaign strategy . In her opinion, she marked “strategically important places” with her party flags. By the end of the election campaign, the PF wanted to "occupy" the whole of Kosovo. The election slogan was Vota Është e Jona “The voice is ours ”.
  • Partia Demokratike e Kosovës (PDK) : Party leader and still prime minister Hashim Thaçi aimed with his program at the creation of 200,000 new jobs. In his opinion, the PDK's victory would be undisputed. The Democrats' election slogan was Misioni i Ri "The New Mission".
  • Alliance New Kosovo (AKR) : With the electoral slogan Na Kryjmë Punën “We do the work”, the AKR aimed at increasing security in the country and, like many other parties, was in favor of “economic unification” with Albania , which harmonized the free Market and the economy of both countries.
  • Lëvizja Vetëvendosje! (VV) : During the presentation of a candidate from the VV, party chairman Albin Kurti stated that his party was striving for a republican state, which meant neither privileges for the ethnic minorities nor for the economically stronger. She promised free health service, free education, and a progressive tax . The VV will fight corruption and not interfere in the judiciary. The Vetëvendosje election slogan! is Tash ka shpresë # meLëvizjen "Now there is hope #with the movement".

Electoral process

The parliament of the Republic of Kosovo has 120 members. 20 of them are reserved for the ethnic minorities. They are elected every four years using the D'Hondt procedure .

Those entitled to vote were allowed to choose up to five candidates from exactly one political subject. In the voting booth there was also a brochure with all the candidates for information. The political subjects were already listed on the ballot paper.

According to the constitution , 20 of the 120 parliamentary seats are reserved for the country's ethnic minorities. These are not offset against the remaining election results. Ten of them are guaranteed to the Serbs , one each to the Roma , Ashkali and Egyptians , three to the Bosniaks , two to the Turks and one to the Gorans . There is also a seat for the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian community that has the most votes. All seats are elected using the D'Hondt procedure .

Election observer

The Central Election Commission declared on June 3, 2014 that the official number of all national and international election observers was 27,733. They included representatives from the European Union , the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the United Nations .

Ballot box

voter turnout

The venues for voting opened at 7:00 a.m. A total of 2374 voting stations were available in 798 voting centers. Around 14 percent of those eligible to vote had gone to the polls by 12:00 p.m. At 3:00 p.m., 26.6 percent were counted. The highest proportion was measured in Mamusha with 37.37%, the lowest in Dragash with 20.38%.

By 7:00 p.m. 43.42 percent of the electorate had gone to the ballot box. The largest share was in the capital Pristina at 51.73 percent, while the lowest in Leposavić was 32.35 percent. All voting halls were closed at 7:00 p.m. and the polls ended. Immediately afterwards the counting of votes began.

Registered irregularities

Only one serious anomaly was observed across the country by noon. In the capital Pristina, one person entitled to vote tried twice. The police arrested him meanwhile.

By the end of the ballot, a total of eight voters were arrested on suspicion of election fraud. A total of 16 people were involved in 13 cases of manipulation.

Prosecutor and police units are investigating a suspicion in the Skënderaj region that ballot boxes are being filled with fake ballot papers in four villages. This suspicion has yet to be confirmed.

Comments and responses

Kosovar writer and independence activist Adem Demaçi announced that he would not vote:

“Kam thënë që të gjitha partitë janë të mirë, po ja që unë nuk e votoj asnjërën. Asnjëherë nuk votoj. Andaj as sot nuk mund të më shihni në vendvotim. "

“I said all parties are good, but I don't choose any. I never vote. That's why you can't see me in the voting room today either. "

- Adem Demaçi : Bota Sot

The Strong Party (PF) was the first party to declare its election victory. Exactly three minutes after the end of the election, the PF described their victory as "irrevocable". In her satirical way she drew attention to the long tradition of political parties, which often immediately announced their victory after the polls.

Vote counting

The counting of votes began immediately after the polls ended at 7:00 p.m. It lasted until June 26th.

During the vote count, there was a violent argument between PDK and LDK sympathizers in the capital. A man was injured when he was accidentally hit by a PDK sympathizer on a motorcycle. The driver then hit the road. The injured man's condition was temporarily critical.

After counting around 40 percent of the votes, Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi declared the victory of his Democratic Party.

On June 13, the ballot papers from 14 voting stations began to be re-counted, as it was suspected that irregularities were taking place. The Central Election Commission denied NISMA's speculation that tampering could be carried out when the remaining ballot papers were counted.

On June 17, the counting of the remaining ballot papers began, which included 21,800 votes with conditions, 1,500 votes from people with special needs, and 13,000 votes sent by post. At the same time, two more voting stations were re-counted as complaints had been filed. The 14 voting booths from last week had meanwhile been re-counted.

Results

On June 26, the electoral commission announced that the counting of votes had ended completely. According to the official results, the votes are distributed among the various political subjects as follows:

logo list Political party Absolute votes Share of votes
Logo of the PDK 58 Partia Demokratie e Kosovës 000000000222181.0000000000222.181 30.38%
54 Democratic League of Kosovo 000000000184596.0000000000184,596 25.24%
Logo of the Vetëvendosje! 35 Vetëvendosje! 000000000099397.000000000099.397 13.59%
Logo of the AAK 44 Alliance for the future of Kosovo 000000000069793.000000000069,793 9.54%
38 Serbian list 000000000038199.000000000038.199 5.22%
59 Initiative for Kosovo 000000000037681.000000000037,681 5.15%
Logo of the AKR 40 Alliance New Kosovo 000000000034170.000000000034,170 4.67%
Logo of the KDTP 57 Turkish Democratic Party of Kosovo 000000000007424.00000000007,424 1.02%
36 Coalition Vakat 000000000006476.00000000006,476 0.89%
33 Progressive Democratic Party 000000000005973.00000000005,973 0.82%
32 Ashkali Democratic Party of Kosovo 000000000003335.00000000003,335 0.46%
46 New Democratic Party 000000000002837.00000000002,837 0.39%
52 Turkish Justice Party of Kosovo 000000000002349.00000000002,349 0.32%
31 Egyptian Liberal Party 000000000001960.00000000001,960 0.27%
39 Democratic Prosperity Movement 000000000001787.00000000001,787 0.24%
49 Ashkali Party for Integration 000000000001583.00000000001,583 0.22%
47 New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo 000000000001456.00000000001,456 0.2%
Logo of the PF 37 Strong party 000000000001142.00000000001,142 0.16%
Other and independent 000000000008912.00000000008,912 1.22%

Allocation of seats in parliament 2014–2017

According to the election commission, the 120 parliamentary seats are allocated to the political parties as follows:

  • PDK: 37
  • LDK: 30
  • VV: 16
  • AAK: 11
  • NK: 6
  • Minorities: 20

International ratings

The EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy , Catherine Ashton , said on June 9 that "these elections a step forward in the consolidation of democracy in Kosovo are". She thanked the election observers of the European Union and assessed the parliamentary election as "properly".

The US - Democrat Eliot Engel described the polls as progressive and democratic and said that "they (the Kosovars) can be proud of what they have achieved."

The Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić said, "It is important that the Serbs have participated in the parliamentary elections in Kosovo - regardless of the percentage they achieved - and that they will have their legitimate representatives in the Kosovo Parliament". He added that "this is only part of the political war," referring to the formation of the community of Serb communities in Kosovo, which is a point of the April 2013 agreement.

The US magazine Foreign Policy analyzed the parliamentary elections in Kosovo, their starting position and their consequences. Accordingly, Hashim Thaçi and his Democratic Party are sharply criticized for how they have ruled the country in recent years. Bad financial management, nepotism , international crime and various corruption scandals dominated the Thaçi government . The greatest concern of all Kosovar citizens is employment and unemployment, but privatization and the hidden and opaque offers from high political officials and employees limited employment opportunities. According to Foreign Policy , only those with family and political connections can find work in Kosovo. The magazine adds that Thaçi won the election not because of his popularity, but because of the low turnout. The latter is due to the fact that people are often frustrated and apathetic.

Coalition talks

The day after, the political parties that are expected to move into parliament sought contact with one another to discuss a possible governing coalition . As the winner of the election, the Democratic Party is the political force with the most votes in the country and is dependent on partners to form a government .

Possible options for the winning party PDK

According to the journalist and analyst Halil Matoshi (* 1961), Hashim Thaçi has three options for forming a government:

  • The PDK forms a coalition with the AAK and NISMA and would thus consist of successor organizations to the UÇK , the so-called "Front of War" (alb. Krahu i luftës ). In this case, however, Ramush Haradinaj , the AAK party chairman, would have to become future prime minister, as this was a condition of his party in order to join a government.
  • The second possibility would be a minimal winning coalition between PDK and LDK. This would be a relatively stable government, but it would not be clear how qualitative it would be.
  • And the third option would be to block the opposition parties and hold new early parliamentary elections. According to Matoshi, this would be too costly for Kosovo.

The minority parties, above all the Serbian List (Serbian Srpska Lista ), are available as partners . Vetëvendosje! on the other hand, a coalition would only enter into if the PDK accepted the radical conditions of the Vetëvendosje! accepted.

Coalition agreement LDK-AAK-NISMA

On June 10, it was announced that Isa Mustafa ( LDK ), Ramush Haradinaj ( AAK ) and Fatmir Limaj ( NISMA ) agreed to form a coalition of their parties. According to this agreement, Mustafa will be appointed President of Parliament - after the current President's term of office expires in 2015, he would move to this post, Haradinaj would become Prime Minister and Limaj would appoint a Deputy Prime Minister. The idea of ​​a united opposition against Hashim Thaçi had already come from Albin Kurti ( VV ).

Vetëvendosje! will only vote for this coalition government if its three demands are respected: 1. The war against corruption, 2. the suspension of the dialogue with Serbia and 3. the suspension of the privatization of KEK (energy supply company), Trepča and PTK .

The PDK does not agree with this step taken by the three parties. She even regards it as unconstitutional, because in her opinion, only the party or coalition that has won the parliamentary election should form the government. And she explained through her deputy party chairman Hajredin Kuçi that a complaint would be brought to the constitutional court if she was not asked to form a government.

Violations during the electoral process

On June 13, the Central Election Commission announced that individual political parties would be fined for committing some violations of the law during the election campaign and during the polls. The PDK was punished with a fine of 6,500 euros because it campaigned for itself among individual voters during the period of rest. NISMA was also punished because some of its members tried to buy votes in Malisheva .

After the election

A commentator for the FAZ summed up eight months after the election: Many were hoping for a fresh start after the long-standing ruling party had lost its parliamentary majority. But the other groups failed to form a coalition for half a year. Now the old forces continue to rule. The middle class in particular had hoped that nepotism would end and that they would finally have opportunities for advancement. These dreams have vanished, which is why the disaffected emigrate. In June 2014, 320 Kosovars applied for asylum in the Federal Republic of Germany , in December 1,956 and in January 2015 3,630. Thousands more have not yet been able to apply for asylum because the procedure has been delayed due to the large onslaught. The refugees come across the 'green border' between Serbia and Hungary .

Web links

 Wikinews: Kosovars elect parliament  - message

Central electoral commission

German speaking media

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Mbledhja e jashtëzakonshme e Kuvendit të Republikës së Kosovës (Extraordinary meeting of the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo). In: Official website of the Parliament. May 7, 2014, accessed May 8, 2014 (Albanian).
  2. ↑ Presidentja Jahjaga dekretoi 8 qershorin si datë për mbajtjen e zgjedhjeve të parakohshme parlamentare në Kosovë (President Jahjaga decreed June 8th as the date for holding the early parliamentary elections in Kosovo). In: Official website of the President. May 8, 2014, accessed May 8, 2014 (Albanian).
  3. ^ Official ballot (Albanian and Serbian). In: Central Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on May 23, 2014 ; accessed on May 23, 2014 (PDF file, 167 kB).
  4. ↑ Kosovė, përfundon Procesi i votimit, nis numërimi. Mapo, June 8, 2014, archived from the original on June 12, 2014 ; Retrieved June 8, 2014 (Albanian).
  5. ↑ Haradinaj: Qeverisjen do ta bazojmë në shtet ligjor (Haradinaj: Our government will be based on the rule of law). Telegrafi, May 30, 2014, archived from the original on May 31, 2014 ; Retrieved May 30, 2014 (Albanian).
  6. ^ Official website of the AAK election campaign. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014 ; Retrieved May 30, 2014 (Albanian).
  7. ↑ Mustafa: Vetëm LDK-ja mund ta rrëzojë PDK-në nga pushteti (Mustafa: Only LDK can overthrow the PDK). Telegrafi, May 29, 2014, archived from the original on May 31, 2014 ; Retrieved May 30, 2014 (Albanian).
  8. ↑ Partia e Fortë okupon Miqt '(Strong party occupies Miqt ′). Telegrafi, May 29, 2014, archived from the original on May 31, 2014 ; Retrieved May 30, 2014 (Albanian).
  9. ↑ Thaçi në Llap: Fitorja e PDK-së e pakontestueshme (Thaçi in Llap: victory of the PDK is undisputed). Telegrafi, May 29, 2014, archived from the original on May 31, 2014 ; Retrieved May 30, 2014 (Albanian).
  10. ↑ Pacolli: Qytetarët e Pejës s'do të kenë më frikë (Pacolli: The citizens of Peja will no longer be afraid). Telegrafi, May 29, 2014, archived from the original on May 31, 2014 ; Retrieved May 30, 2014 (Albanian).
  11. ↑ Kurti: Me VV-në në pushtet nuk do të ketë të privilegjuar (Kurti: With VV in the government there will be no more privileged people). Telegrafi, May 29, 2014, archived from the original on May 31, 2014 ; Retrieved May 30, 2014 (Albanian).
  12. ↑ picture gallery. Official VV website, accessed on May 30, 2014 (Albanian).
  13. ↑ Udhëzim: Si të votohet më 8 qershor. In: Koha Ditore . June 7, 2014, Retrieved June 7, 2014 (Albanian).
  14. ↑ Komunikatë për media. Official website of the Central Election Commission, June 8, 2014, archived from the original on July 14, 2014 ; Retrieved June 8, 2014 (Albanian).
  15. ^ First press conference of the Central Election Commission at 8:00 a.m. Official website of the Central Election Commission, June 8, 2014, archived from the original on June 12, 2014 ; Retrieved June 8, 2014 (Albanian).
  16. ↑ Kosova voton. Peshku pa ujë, June 8, 2014, accessed June 8, 2014 (Albanian).
  17. ↑ DnV: Deri në 12 Oren Kane votuar 14% e qytetarëve. Koha Ditore , June 8, 2014, accessed June 8, 2014 (Albanian).
  18. ↑ KQZ: Deri në orën 15:00 votuan 26.49%. Zëri.info, June 8, 2014, archived from the original on June 12, 2014 ; Retrieved June 8, 2014 (Albanian).
  19. ↑ Dates at 7:00 p.m. In: Official website of the Central Election Commission for the elections. Archived from the original on May 27, 2014 ; Retrieved June 8, 2014 (Albanian).
  20. ↑ Mbyllen vendvotimet, KQZ: Votuan 43% e votuesve. Bota Sot , June 8, 2014, accessed June 8, 2014 (Albanian).
  21. ↑ Arrestohet një person që ka votuar dy herë. Koha Ditore , June 8, 2014, accessed June 8, 2014 (Albanian).
  22. ↑ 16 vetë të përfshirë në 13 raste manipulimi. Koha Ditore , June 8, 2014, accessed June 8, 2014 (Albanian).
  23. ↑ Prokuroria: Jemi nisur për në fshatrat e Skenderajt. Zëri.info, June 8, 2014, archived from the original on June 14, 2014 ; Retrieved June 8, 2014 (Albanian).
  24. ↑ Demaçi bojkoton zgjedhjet. Bota Sot , June 8, 2014, accessed June 8, 2014 (Albanian).
  25. ↑ PF: Piu maca uje, parevokueshme fitore e. Koha Ditore , June 8, 2014, accessed June 8, 2014 (Albanian).
  26. ↑ Përleshje mes militantëve të PDK-së dhe LDK-së. Koha Ditore , June 8, 2014, accessed June 8, 2014 (Albanian).
  27. ↑ Simpatizanti i PDK-SE shkel një tė ri, gjendja e tij e Rende. Zëri.info, June 8, 2014, archived from the original on June 11, 2014 ; Retrieved June 9, 2014 (Albanian).
  28. ↑ Hashim Thaçi confirmon fitoren. Zëri.info, June 8, 2014, archived from the original on June 12, 2014 ; Retrieved June 9, 2014 (Albanian).
  29. ↑ Sonte kryhet rinumërimi vendvotimeve i fourteenth Koha Ditore , June 13, 2014, accessed June 13, 2014 (Albanian).
  30. ↑ Sot fillon numërimi i votave me kusht. Koha Ditore , June 17, 2014, accessed June 17, 2014 (Albanian).
  31. ↑ Komunikatë për media. Central Election Commission, June 16, 2014, archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; Retrieved June 17, 2014 (Albanian).
  32. ↑ Results Përfundimtare nga QNR - Konačni Rezultati iz CPR-a. Komisioni Qendror i Zgjedhjeve, June 26, 2014, archived from the original on June 30, 2014 ; Retrieved June 27, 2014 (Albanian, unknown language, Serbian, PDF file; 269 kB).
  33. ↑ Ndarja e ulësve dhe rezultatet kandidatëve. June 26, 2014, archived from the original on June 30, 2014 ; Retrieved June 27, 2014 (Albanian, unknown language, Serbian, PDF file; 173 kB).
  34. ↑ Ashton: Zgjedhjet ishin të mira - BE do të vazhdojë ta mbështes perspectives evropiane të Kosovës. Koha Ditore , June 9, 2014, accessed June 9, 2014 (Albanian).
  35. ↑ Angel për Zgjedhjet: Jini krenarë. Koha Ditore , June 9, 2014, accessed June 9, 2014 (Albanian).
  36. ↑ Daçiq: Serbët me përfaqësues legjitimë në Kosovë. Koha Ditore , June 9, 2014, accessed June 9, 2014 (Albanian).
  37. ↑ "Foreign Policy": Qeverisja e Thaçit ishte e dominuar nga scandalet e korrupsionit, thriller ndërkombëtar dhe nepotizmi. Koha Ditore , June 13, 2014, accessed June 13, 2014 (Albanian).
  38. ↑ Ramush Haradinaj kryeministër! Zëri.info, June 10, 2014, archived from the original on June 12, 2014 ; Retrieved June 10, 2014 (Albanian).
  39. ^ Hashim + Ramush + Serbi = Qeveri. Bota Sot , June 9, 2014, accessed June 10, 2014 (Albanian).
  40. ↑ Zyrtare: Haradinaj kryeministër, LDK merr Presidentin dhe kreun e Kuvendit, Nisma Zëvendëskryeministrin. Bota Sot , June 10, 2014, accessed June 10, 2014 (Albanian).
  41. ↑ Vetëvendosje nuk jep votën pa u siguruar për kushtet, thotë Molliqaj. Koha Ditore , June 10, 2014, accessed June 10, 2014 (Albanian).
  42. ↑ "Marrëveshja e opozitës" deklarohet zyrtarisht edhe PDK. Bota Sot , June 10, 2014, accessed June 10, 2014 (Albanian).
  43. ↑ Kuçi: Nese nuk na Jepet mandatari, i drejtohemi Kushtetueses. Koha Ditore , June 11, 2014, accessed June 11, 2014 .
  44. ↑ Partitë politike do të paguajnë me mijëra euro gjoba për shkeljet në zgjedhje. Koha Ditore , June 13, 2014, accessed June 13, 2014 (Albanian).
  45. ↑ FAZ.net February 15, 2015: Disappointed Kosovars
  46. ↑ bund.de
  47. ↑ a b zeit.de February 12, 2015: "In Kosovo there is no more life"
  48. ↑ FAZ.net: The middle class is fleeing
  49. ↑ FAZ.net: What to do with the Kosovo refugees? (Comment)