f. Municipal Election Officers (MEOs) and Municipal Election Commissions (MECs)
Municipal Election Officers (MEOs) are appointed and remunerated by the CEC. They have a task of proposing membership of the Municipal Election Commissions (MECs) in coordination with the Chief Executive Officer in each municipality. MEOs chair meetings and report regularly to the CEC. They are required to “endeavour” to ensure gender and ethnic balance in the MECs.
MEC members are required to be apolitical and professional. Under the exclusive supervision and direction of the CEC, acting through the CEC Secretariat, they administer the election within their municipality ensuring the legality, legitimacy and efficiency of the electoral process.
A MEC member can be dismissed, if the member has failed to adequately perform his or her duties as a member.
Logistic and administrative support for them is to be provided by local municipal assemblies.
g. Registration and internal democracy of the political entities
UNMIK Regulation 2004/11 on the Registration and Operation of Political Parties in Kosovo introduced new standards of internal democracy and financial transparency applicable to all political entities registered in Kosovo. Compliance with such standards was made a prerequisite for participation of the parties in election cycles. Requirements include the holding of an assembly meeting every 24 months, submission regularly of financial reports, compliance with the regulations on statutes and programmes, abstaining from letting certain categories of members holding functions contrary to the regulations, full cooperation with the auditors and paying of fines. Furthermore, they are encouraged to promote policies which support community reconciliation rather than division.
h. Certification of political entities for the Election
The closing date for certification of political entities contesting the October Election was postponed until 6 August, by which date 34 political entities had been certified by the CEC. Previously, the CEC had rejected two political entities for non-compliance with the regulations, (unpaid earlier fines imposed by ECAC). According to decisions given in 2002, 11 other political entities wanting to contest the 2004 elections were found not to have complied with, among other things, the Financial Disclosure Regulations and thus disqualified to be certified. ECAC, however, concluded in a reconsideration of its own decision from 2002 to withdraw the sanction and therefore recommend the 11 entities for certification.
All the principal existing parties, including the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), and the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) will run, as well as some new entities, including the Citizens List ORA and the Democratic Alternative of Kosovo (ADK). The only Serb political entity on the ballot paper is the Citizens’ Initiative of Serbia.
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