Well-administered runoffs after extensive recounts and tough competition in a vivid campaign
“The runoff mayoral elections were well administered and competitive,” said Mr Mandl at a press conference in Pristina today. “The campaign was vivid and peaceful, though its tone was harsher compared to the first round. However, in the absence of sanctions for campaigning outside of the official five-day period, most candidates were canvassing long before the official campaign kicked off,” added Mr Mandl.
Overall, EU observers assessed both voting and counting positively in nearly all polling stations visited in the 21 Kosovo municipalities where runoff mayoral elections took place, even though some difficulties with ballot reconciliation were noted in a few polling stations observed.
Candidate rallies were attended by leaders of the major parties, including the prime minister and ministers. Between the two rounds, the government announced a temporary increase of social benefits which led to opposition's accusations of indirect vote buying.
“While candidates shared useful information through online platforms, opaque Facebook pages were used to spread misleading content and thereby hampering the voters’ ability to form opinions free from manipulative interference,” said Mr Mandl.
Broadcast media organised several interviews and debates and, respecting regulations, they refrained from airing paid political content outside the official election campaign period. A few channels published unreliable polls.
“The complaints and appeals process after the first round was generally conducted in a transparent and impartial manner,” said Mr Mandl, adding that “However, the tabulation of the first-round results, although thorough and transparent, revealed significant weaknesses in the counting and completion of the results’ forms. Furthermore, blatant lack of transparency related to the financing of contestants’ campaigns persisted in the second round. These are among several long-lasting issues that have to be finally addressed.”
The EU deployed 62 observers from EU Member States as well as Norway and Switzerland for 14 November runoff mayoral elections that took place in 21 Kosovo municipalities. The EU EOM continues to follow the process at the Count and Results Centre and the resolution of any complaints and appeals.
For further information, please contact the press officer of the EU EOM Kosovo 2021.
Marek Mracka, Press Officer, EU EOM Kosovo 2021,
marek.mracka@eueomkosovo2021.eu +383 48 798 326