Spécial
Kosovo
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Spécial
Kosovo
Elections municipales du 26/10/2002
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Ibrahim Rugova, président de la Ligue démocratique du Kosovo (LDK), a remporté les élections municipales dans la province yougoslave, mais les modérés ont cédé du terrain aux partis dirigés par les anciens rebelles albanophones,
La Ligue de Rugova a remporté une majorité de sièges de maires et de conseillers dans 11 des 30 municipalités, d'après Susan Carnduff, de l'OSCE. Auparavant, cette formation était majoritaire dans 20 municipalités. Toutefois, la Ligue devrait gouverner plusieurs autres municipalités, en formant des coalitions avec d'autres partis plus petits.
Quatre municipalités sont allées au Parti démocratique du Kosovo (PDK) dirigé par l'ancien chef rebelle Hashim Thaçi.
L'Alliance pour l'avenir du Kosovo (AAK), dirigée par Ramush Haradinaj, a recueilli un tiers des suffrages mais n'obtient aucune municipalité.
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Environ 1,3 million d'électeurs étaient appelés samedi au Kosovo à renouveler leurs conseils municipaux au cours d'un scrutin à valeur de test pour les administrateurs internationaux qui s'efforcent depuis trois ans de réconcilier Albanais majoritaires et Serbes. Les électeurs de 30 municipalités devaient choisir entre 5.700 candidats de 68 partis, coalitions ou indépendants, et élire 920 conseillers locaux.
L'OSCE est le maître d'oeuvre de ce scrutin, considéré comme un test pour l'ONU, qui a engagé le pari de faire participer la communauté serbe minoritaire aux institutions locales de la province, dominée par les Albanais.
Kosovo: faible vote serbe aux municipales
Selon les estimations d'une instance de supervision basée à Belgrade, le taux de participation dans les zones serbes du Kosovo s'établit approximativement à 33%, soit très en deçà des 54% enregistrés pour l'ensemble de la province à prédominance albanaise.
Encore ces chiffres paraissent-ils amplifier la réalité: d'après des chiffres préliminaires de l'OSCE (Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe), seuls 14% des quelque 100.000 Serbes du Kosovo vivant aujourd'hui hors de la province auraient rempli leur "devoir électoral".
28/10/2002 : L'OSCE a annoncé le résultat partiel des municipales de Kosove
Les élections municipales au Kosovo ont été remportées par la Ligue démocratique du Kosovo (LDK) dans 19 communes, le Parti démocratique du Kosovo (PDK) dans 7 communes et les partis serbes dans 4 communes.
la LDK a gagné dans toutes les grandes villes tandis que le PDK a pris à LDK deux communes, Malisheve et Lipjan. Les partis serbes ont gagné trois communes au nord - Zvecan, Albanik (ancien Leposavic) et Zubin Potok où le taux de participation était faible et la commune de Shterpce. Selon ce résultat partiel tiré sur le dépouillement de 83% des bulletins de vote, les coalitions éventuelles pourraient prendre au LDK le pouvoir à Prizren, Peje et Decan.
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Pristina (18/10/2002) : Le chef du bureau américain appelle les citoyens du Kosovo de participer d'une manière massive aux élections locales
Lors d'un l'entretien avec une délégation des assemblées municipales des 30 communes de Kosove, le 18/10, le chef du bureau américain à Prishtine, M. Reno Harnish, a appelé les citoyens du Kosovo de participer de manière massive aux élections municipales du 26 octobre. "Les kosovars ont gagné la lutte et maintenant ils sont libres d'élire leurs dirigeants, d'exprimer librement leur volonté concernant les partis et les philosophies politiques", a déclaré M. Harnish. "La non participation au scrutin pourrait porter atteinte à un pays et affermir les forces extrêmes", a-t-il déclaré, prenant comme exemple la Serbie et l'échec des élections en raison du boycottage par l'électorat. M. Harnish a appelé aussi les serbes de Kosove de participer à ces élections.
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Pristina, 5.08.2002 - The Council of Europe Election Observation Mission in Kosovo (CEEOM III) has been set up to carry out impartial Long-Term Observation of the Municipal Assembly Elections that are scheduled for 26 October. Due to its commitment to promoting human rights and democracy, the Council of Europe pledged to undertake this observation following the request of the election organisers - the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) - who appealed to a third impartial body to ensure fairness of the election process.
The Council of Europe Election Observation Mission in Kosovo, headed by Ambassador Carlo Civiletti (Italy) was established on 15 July, coinciding with the start of the first component of the election process - the registration of voters.
The CEEOM III has recently deployed 10 international Long-Term Observers (LTOs)
throughout Kosovo, in Serbia and Montenegro to monitor whether the elections are
conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations and meet international
standards. Following a two day training programme to equip themselves for the
elections, the LTOs will scrutinize, on the spot, all 3 electoral phases -
registration of voters and political entities; the electoral campaign and the
Election Day itself, including the Count to ensure the law-abiding approach of
the Municipal Assembly representatives election. At present, the international
observers are focusing on registration component: updating the voters' lists and
Voter Service Centres' activity.
The CEEOM III will also analyse the media conduct during the election in order
to assess the adherence to the law in this sector.
The Mission operation is handled by a CEEOM III core team based in Pristina, to whom the LTOs are commissioned to report on their findings on a regular basis.
In addition, the Council of Europe is tasked with the coordination of the international Short-Term Observation. The CEEOM III will train and deploy more than 100 impartial Short-Term Observers (STOs), who will arrive in Kosovo a week before the Elections to observe the polling and the counting procees.
This is the third consecutive Council of Europe Election Observation Mission in Kosovo. The CoE carried out a similar observation of the 2000 Municipal Assembly Elections and the 2001 Assembly Elections. The previous missions were also undertaken at the request of the UNMIK and OSCE.
Press contact
Ecaterina Canter, press officer of the CEEOM III
Tel: 038 236 163
Fax: 038 237 163
Mobile: +377(0)44 283 346
E-mail :
ecaterina.canter@coe.int
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Pristina, 25.08.2002 - « La démocratie locale est d'une importance majeure pour la population, parce qu'elle touche au plus près la vie des citoyens. C'est pourquoi les prochaines élections municipales au Kosovo nous paraissent primordiales », a déclaré Monsieur l'Ambassadeur Carlo Civiletti, Chef de la Mission d'observation du Conseil de l'Europe pour les élections au Kosovo (MOCEE III).
« Par notre présence ici, nous espérons encourager les citoyens à participer aux élections du 26 octobre, pour s'assurer que leurs représentants élus reflèteront leurs aspirations », a affirmé M. Civiletti. Selon lui, il s'agit d'élections capitales parce que les autorités seront investies d'un mandat de 4 ans et que les électeurs participeront ainsi plus activement à la construction de leur avenir.
La Mission effectue ses observations par l'intermédiaire de ses observateurs internationaux dits « à long terme » déployés dans tout le Kosovo, en Serbie et au Monténégro pour suivre l'intégralité du processus électoral. Leurs observations sont communiquées chaque semaine à l'équipe de base de la MOCEE III à Pristina. Le Chef de la Mission rencontre des membres des autorités dirigeantes du Kosovo ainsi que des responsables d'organisations politiques et examine avec eux la préparation des élections. M. Civiletti a également rencontré des organisations représentant les personnes déplacées et handicapées, afin de prendre la mesure de leur participation au processus.
A la suite d'une demande officielle des organisateurs du scrutin - la Mission des Nations Unies au Kosovo (MINUK) et l'Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe (OSCE) -, le Conseil de l'Europe s'est engagé à mener une mission d'observation indépendante et objective des élections municipales prévues pour le 26 octobre. Il s'agit de sa troisième mission consécutive de ce type au Kosovo.
La MOCEE III prévoit de former et de déployer plus de 100 observateurs à court terme qui, avec l'appui des Etats membres du Conseil de l'Europe, examineront de près, et en toute impartialité, le déroulement du scrutin et le décompte des voix.
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Mandat de la mission du Conseil de l'Europe d'observation des élections municipales de 2002 au Kosovo
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION FOR THE 2002 MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS IN KOSOVO (CEEOM III)
General Terms of Reference
1. Upon request of the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations (SRSG), Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the Council of Europe, acting on behalf of the international community in Kosovo, is to observe the electoral process intended to appoint representatives to the Municipal Assemblies in Kosovo, as called for in UNMIK Regulations 2000/39 and 2000/45.
The SRSG in a letter dated 9 March 2002, further detailed by a letter dated 15 May 2002, has asked the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to accept the responsibility for the international observation of the electoral process, including the areas of registration and the updating of the Voters' List, the electoral campaign, Election Day and the Count and Results Centre.
2. The observation of the process is intended to enable it to run smoothly by checking and attesting its conformity with international standards and with the objectives set out in Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council, in particular its paragraph 11.(c), which provides the framework for the process. The aim is to ensure the impartiality and credibility of the electoral process and thereby to encourage all the communities of Kosovo to play their full part in it.1
3. Responsibility for the electoral process has been vested in the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG), who heads the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), and the process is being organised by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo (OmiK), Pillar III of UNMIK. The OmiK Department of Election Operations will provide CEEOM III with details of operational plans and other assistance which CEEOM III may require.
The establishment of the electoral rules concerning issues such as the certification of parties, coalitions, citizens' initiatives and candidates, the code of conduct, domestic monitoring, and polling and counting are the responsibility of the Central Election Commission set up under SRSG Regulation 2000/21, as amended by Regulation 2000/65. The certification of the electoral results and the design of an appropriate electoral system are the responsibility of the SRSG. It is the responsibility of the Election Complaints and Appeals Sub-Commission to adjudicate complaints of the electoral process and sanction/remedy violations of the electoral rules.
4. The Ministers' Deputies of the Council of Europe agreed to this mission at their 791th meeting on 10 April 2002 and set up a Council of Europe Election Observation Mission III (CEEOM III) placed under the authority of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
5. In its observer role, the Council of Europe carries out its tasks completely independently of any other parties, and in particular the United Nations and OSCE.
The electoral process
6. The electoral process comprises four phases:
a. Registration
The Voters' List is an extract from the Civil Registry, drawn up on the basis of the registration of the population of Kosovo realised between April and July 2000. In order to make it functional on Election Day, UNMIK and OmiK must update the Voters' List by collecting new data, adding new registrants and changing municipal franchise where necessary. Voters will be allowed to vote for either the Municipal Assemblies of their current place of residence or their pre-conflict municipalities.
Within Kosovo, in Serbia-proper and in Montenegro, registration will be an in-person process. Elsewhere in the world, it will be conducted by mail.
b. Electoral campaign
An analysis of the rules governing the campaign period and of the behaviour of the political entities and the media is critical to ensuring that the voters have a suitable environment in which to make and express their choices.
c. Municipal Assembly Elections, to take place on 26 October 2002
The organisation of Election Day, the security atmosphere and the adherence of the political entities and polling staff to the electoral rules during polling and counting are key areas for observation.
d. Count and Results Centre (C&RC)
Absentee ballots, ballots cast in person in Serbia and Montenegro, by-mail ballots, early voting ballots and conditional ballots will be counted in the C&RC. It will also be responsible for adjudicating conditional ballots, auditing all polling station results and producing partial and final results.
The observation of the electoral process by the CEEOM III
7. The CEEOM III makes an assessment of the registration started on 15 July 2002. It conducts a full observation of the electoral campaign and organises the international short-term elections observation by inviting observers from Council of Europe Member States and other International Organisations as it deems appropriate. It is responsible for the accreditation of all international observers.
8. The CEEOM's terms of reference begins on 15 July 2002 and ends after the certification of the elections by the SRSG. The terms of reference may be terminated at any time by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, after consultation of the SRSG.
The composition of the CEEOM III
9. The CEEOM III is led by a Head of Mission supported by a Core Team. It comprises a group of long-term international observers appointed by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. Before Election Day it will be supplemented by a group of short-term observers. The capacity and number of observers may vary, depending on the progress of the process.
Territorial jurisdiction of the CEEOM III
10. The CEEOM III is observing the process throughout the territory of Kosovo, as well as in Montenegro and Serbia, where OSCE is organising the registration of the population originally from Kosovo and the elections polling, as well as the postal registration and voting process organised by OSCE.
Modalities for the observation of the process
11. CEEOM III is organising the observation according to any modalities it deems appropriate, including
regular visits by observers to the registration sites mentioned in paragraph
10;
observer status in the meetings of the OSCE Elections Administration, in
particular the Central Election Commission, and access to its official
documents, subject to data protection regulations;
observer status in the meetings of the Municipal Election Commissions and access
to their documents, subject to data protection regulations;
observer status in the meetings of the Election Complaints and Appeals
Sub-Commission;
consultations with the representatives of political parties and the
representatives of the different communities of Kosovo, as well as with the
representatives of refugees or displaced persons from Kosovo outside the
territory of Kosovo;
discussions with the representatives of UNMIK, OSCE and other international
organisations concerned;
observation of media coverage of the process;
attendance by observers at polling stations during polling and during vote
counting;
observation of the work of the Count and Results Centre.
Reports and recommendations
12. The CEEOM III is to report directly and unrestrictedly to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
13. During its activity, the CEEOM III may draw up reports containing an assessment of the process. In particular, a progress assessment report may be drawn up after the end of the registration phase.
The Head of the CEEOM III may decide to publish these reports, with the agreement of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
A preliminary statement shall be drawn up shortly after the end of polling and vote counting, whilst a final assessment report on the electoral process shall be drawn up by the Head of the CEEOM III after completing the analysis of the reports received from observers, but prior to the certification of the elections by the SRSG.
The use of international expertise
14. For the purposes of its mission, the CEEOM III may call in consultants in specific fields (and particularly experts from the European Commission for Democracy through Law), through the Secretariat of the Council of Europe.
Security and Logistics
15. In order to be able to accomplish its task, the CEEOM III is provided with the necessary resources to guarantee its security and the free movement of its members throughout Kosovo, and in particular the assistance of the international civilian police (CIVPOL) and KFOR.
APPENDIX I
Aspects on which the CEEOM III should place particular attention
during its observation mission
This appendix comprises a non-exhaustive list of aspects to be observed to ensure that the electoral process proceeds in accordance with the objectives set out in paragraph 2 of the CEEOM III terms of reference.
Registration and drawing up of electoral rolls: particular mention should be paid to ensuring compliance with the regulatory framework for registration. Special emphasis should be placed on ensuring that there is free and easy access by the various communities in Kosovo to registration centres, that people who are fully entitled to register are not restricted in any way from registering and that the officials in charge of registration act in an impartial manner. Particular attention should also be placed on compliance with data protection rules, inside and outside Kosovo, when data is entered, processed, used or corrected upon request of the data subject.
The electoral campaign: the campaign should be free and balanced and provide equal access to electors for parties, individual candidates and, especially, the different communities in Kosovo. The impartiality and correct operation of candidate registration procedures, security of candidates and party premises, their freedom of movement in their campaign areas, the absence of threats, pressure or blackmail, free and equitable access to the media and advertising, and the free use of the various languages are particular points to be observed. The smooth operation and, in particular, the impartiality and effectiveness of procedures with regard to the Central Election Commission will also be important points.
Municipal assembly elections: the aspects concerning the electoral campaign must also be complied with on the Election Day. Furthermore, it will be essential to ensure that the municipal election commissions and the polling station commissions operate correctly, that their membership is balanced, that electors have free access to polling stations and are able to vote by secret ballot, that there is no fraud or intimidation, that there is no advertising in or in the immediate vicinity of polling stations, that national and international observers are able to monitor the whole process, that electors are provided with adequate information on where and how they can vote and on the issues at stake, that technical aspects are satisfactory (e.g. material and equipment at polling stations), that polling stations offer good physical access, that electoral rolls are reliable, that all electors, members of the polling station and observers are guaranteed physical security, and that the counting and announcement of results are carried out objectively and transparently.
The Count and Results Centre: As the C&RC is responsible for counting the out-of-Kosovo and other special ballots, auditing all polling station results and producing partial and final results, its work should be closely observed.