The post-election process continues to be accompanied by complaints, objections and claims from political candidates, while the competent bodies are handling them in line with procedures set out by law.
Among the latest cases is that of parliamentary candidates from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Bekim Haxhiu and Qëndrim Kryeziu, who had requested a full recount of the votes from the snap elections of June 7.
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This request, however, was rejected by the Electoral Complaints and Appeals Panel (PZAP), which described their complaint as unfounded.
The published decision shows that the panel assessed that the claims presented were not accompanied by sufficient evidence and arguments that would justify launching a new recount on a general scale.
Haxhiu and Kryeziu’s complaint was directed against the Central Election Commission (KQZ), with a request that all votes for PDK parliamentary candidates be reviewed.
Both candidates had expressed doubts about the way the counting had been conducted, requesting additional verification of the results already published.
In its reasoning, PZAP stressed that a request for a recount must be supported by concrete facts and convincing evidence capable of proving irregularities that directly affect the election result. According to the panel, in this case the complaint did not meet that legal standard.
In this situation, the question arises as to whether PDK is using the request for a full recount more as an instrument to cast doubt on the election result than as a claim supported by facts, given that PZAP dismissed the complaint as unfounded, and whether this reflects a lack of confidence within PDK itself in the electoral process and in the results of its own candidates.
Burjani: There must be serious irregularities that could affect the integrity of the electoral process
On this issue, lawyer Blerim Burjani spoke to “Bota sot.”
According to him, dissatisfaction among certain individuals may exist, but strong evidence affecting the integrity of the electoral process is needed in order to request a vote recount.
“Yes, there is dissatisfaction from certain individuals, but in order to proceed to a vote recount, there must be strong reasons and evidence. In such cases, there must be serious irregularities that could affect the integrity of the electoral process,” he said.
Burjani underlines that a recount or a challenge to election results cannot be requested merely on the basis of suspicions or dissatisfaction, but must be supported by evidence and concrete facts, while the final decision is made by PZAP after reviewing all the circumstances and relevant reports.
“To assess whether there are grounds for a recount or for contesting the result, the Electoral Complaints and Appeals Panel (PZAP) decides, based on the investigations it conducts, the reports of the Central Election Commission (KQZ) and, when necessary, in cooperation with law enforcement bodies.
Therefore, in order to request a recount or challenge the election result, serious facts and concrete evidence must be presented. These requests may be submitted by political entities, but also by their parliamentary candidates,” Burjani told “Bota sot.”
Mehmeti: I believe the aim was for the process to be closed as quickly as possible and not prolonged further
In a statement to “Bota sot,” political analyst Faton Mehmeti assesses that PDK may have chosen not to push further the idea of a full recount, out of fear that such a process would reveal changes in the ranking of candidates and deepen internal debates and dissatisfaction.
“If PDK’s request is analyzed, I think the main reason was to avoid further opening the issue of the ballot boxes and the recount process. If a full recount had taken place, considerable changes could have emerged in the candidates’ results, which would have opened new debates within the party,” he said.
The analyst adds that PDK, in all likelihood, sought for the entire electoral process to conclude as quickly as possible in order to avoid further tensions, stressing that this time the disagreements and dissatisfaction are mainly developing within the party itself and among its candidates.
“For this reason, I believe the aim was for the process to be closed as quickly as possible and not prolonged further. I do not think there was any other essential reason. Within PDK there have always been competitions and internal dissatisfaction after elections, but this time it seems the clashes are not coming from rival parties, but from the party’s own candidates and structures.
This shows that internal competition has been strong and that debates over the result are taking place mainly within the political entity itself,” analyst Mehmeti concluded to “Bota sot.”
