After the war in Kosovo and the arrival of the International Mission - UNMIK based on UNSC Resolution 1244, his mission and all other international mechanisms, including the OSCE, were substantially committed to organizing the Kosovar society from the point of view of the beginning of the functioning of civic and institutional life, after 1999. Kosovo did not have any established institutions that would facilitate normal development of life in Kosovo.
The population of Kosovo was scattered around the world, and citizens of Kosovo were progressively returning to Kosovo, the role of the UN Mission was more or less challenging, the functional organization of UNMIK was experienced and UNMIK was assisted by the OSCE, the Council of Europe. In the absence of institutional quorum, the temporary government of Kosovo had appointed temporary mayors of the municipalities in Kosovo. This government was transformed in December 1999, UNMIK established the temporary PISG departments, the political parties had appointed representatives in these departments (PDK, LDK, LBD) up to the organization of elections at both levels.
Table of Contents
Preparations for the organization of elections
Establishment of the Political Party Consultative Forum
Constitutional framework and seats reserved for minorities
List open / closed
What was learned from the history of the organization of elections in the state of Kosovo
Electoral Zone
Voting List
Chronological history of the organization of elections in the Republic of Kosovo
Objectives and Topics
This work provides a comprehensive historical analysis of the electoral processes in Kosovo following the 1999 conflict, examining the transition from international administration to domestic institutional governance. It investigates the evolution of electoral systems, regulatory frameworks, and the challenges associated with political representation and minority participation in the Republic of Kosovo.
- The role of international missions in establishing initial electoral infrastructure.
- Mechanisms for minority representation and the impact of the Constitutional Framework.
- Comparative analysis of open versus closed electoral lists and their democratic implications.
- The evolution of electoral zones and the challenges of voter list accuracy.
- Legal developments regarding General and Local Elections.
Excerpt from the Book
What was learned from the history of the organization of elections in the state of Kosovo
The closed electoral list is less democratic but does not produce misuse and theft of votes between candidates of the same party, the closed list had its shortcomings but the management of the elections was more stable and effective, without problems and much less complaints and administrative and judicial procedures, the delay in the certification of election results has happened and still happens today, because the open list in the proportional system produces more complaints than the closed list, the procedure for recounting the votes of candidates, as a result of complaints that exercise candidates of political parties at both election levels, the procedures are followed in the courts and this complicates to a considerable extent the final certification of the elections, sometimes such a delay is considered to be close to the conclusion of the elections, this has caused many international and local observers to have many comments and remarks and recommendations for electoral reform.
The open proportional list remains absolute so far desired by all parties and their candidates for elections at both levels, another characteristic can be drawn that even the candidates of the political parties have not trust in the party they belong to when it comes to the normal process of winning votes from elections, for this reason party candidates support the open proportional system, because they trust the citizens more than the party they belong to when it comes to the votes won from the electorate.
Summary of Chapters
Preparations for the organization of elections: Covers the establishment of registration processes, the Central Election Commission (CEC), and the initial training initiatives for political parties.
Establishment of the Political Party Consultative Forum: Describes the creation of a dedicated forum to involve political representatives in discussions regarding the electoral system and proportional representation.
Constitutional framework and seats reserved for minorities: Analyzes how the transitional framework guaranteed parliamentary representation for minority communities and established gender quotas.
List open / closed: Explains the transition from closed lists in 2001 to open lists, balancing party control with increased electoral choice for citizens.
What was learned from the history of the organization of elections in the state of Kosovo: Evaluates the challenges of electoral management, emphasizing the procedural trade-offs between democratic openness and administrative stability.
Electoral Zone: Discusses the persisting debate on whether to maintain a single national electoral zone or move toward a more geographically representative multi-zone system.
Voting List: addresses the ongoing technical difficulties in maintaining accurate voter registries in line with international standards.
Chronological history of the organization of elections in the Republic of Kosovo: Provides a clear tabular timeline of all parliamentary and municipal elections held between 2000 and 2021.
Keywords
Elections, UNMIK, Kosovo, Electoral System, Proportional Representation, Electoral Threshold, Minority Rights, Gender Quota, Political Parties, Constitutional Framework, Electoral Reform, Voter List, Democracy, Parliamentary Elections, Municipal Assemblies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this publication fundamentally cover?
The book provides a systematic overview of the development, management, and history of electoral processes in Kosovo from 1999 to 2021.
What are the central thematic fields discussed?
The focus areas include electoral legislation, the impact of international administrative bodies, proportional representation, and the evolution of political participation.
What is the primary goal of the research?
The primary goal is to analyze how the electoral system was built from scratch and identifying the challenges that continue to face the state's democratic processes.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The work utilizes a historical-descriptive method, drawing on official reports, electoral data, and legal assessments of institutional development.
What topics are addressed in the main body?
The main body examines the creation of election commissions, the debate between open and closed voting lists, minority seat reservations, and the chronological record of elections.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Kosovo, electoral system, democracy, minority representation, and electoral reform.
How did the OSCE contribute to the early elections in Kosovo?
The OSCE played a crucial role in capacity building, training local personnel, overseeing voter registration, and ensuring media access during the 2000 municipal elections.
Why does the author advocate for electoral reform?
The author argues for reform to improve government efficiency, reduce the reliance on conditional voting, and address the lack of accountability inherent in the current fragmented political landscape.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Blerim Burjani (Autor:in), 2023, History of Elections in Kosovo, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1392274
