Kosovo Polls Marred By Family Voting
The first polls in Kosovo since its 2008 independence declaration met many international standards but were marred by “widespread” so-called family voting, international observers said Monday.
“The elections met many of the international standards,” the head of the international observing mission Darko Aleksov told reporters.
However, the “widespread incidence of family voting observed is not only against the law, but represents a serious breach of the important principle of the secrecy of vote,” Aleksov added.
In family voting, one member of the family, often male heads of household, cast ballots for all members, depriving others of individual choice.
The observer mission, which was set up by the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations, is specialized in observing compliance of elections with interna
tional standards and national legislation.
Kosovo Sunday held the run-off elections to decide mayors of 21 municipalities after candidates failed to win a 50% majority in the Nov. 15 first round.
According to preliminary results following both rounds, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci’s Democratic Party of Kosovo has won control in 15 towns.
Its junior coalition party, the Democratic League of Kosovo of President Fatmir Sejdiu, gained majority in seven towns.
The polls were the first since Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008.
So far 63 countries have recognized the move, including the U.S. and all but five European Union members.
Serbia refuses to recognize the independence of Kosovo, where 90% of the population is ethnic Albanian.
Serbia had called on Kosovo minority Serbs to boycott the polls, but some cast ballots in both rounds, winning four towns with Serb majority in central Kosovo.
December 14, 2009
AFP
They still live in clans for Gods sake!
And they want to have a country. They don’t even know how to be a family.
Peggy
Good observation on clans.
That arrangement formed few days after monkeys came down from the tree.
Where is now “international community”???
The results should be illegal. Oh, I forgot,
the Kosovo is “exceptional” in international law.
@ Rade
Which law?
It’s the law of the jungle my friend.
No-one ever ever forget the criminal activities of that sodomite Bill Clinton………ever !
People do not talk about the giant American base “Bondsteel” in Kosovo – the yanks aren’t there for the scenery !
Let us remember the NATO crimes of the past….and screw the EU.