Vetevendosje will not replace Kurti in the election list despite ban from running on 14 February election

English

Gazeta Express

02/02/2021 16:03

The Vetevendosje representative in the Central Elections Commission (CEC), Sami Kurteshi, said the election list of this party submitted with the CEC will have 110 candidates implying that their leader Albin Kurti who leads the list will not be replaced.

Last week the Supreme Court of Kosovo ruled that former prime minister of Kosovo and Vetevendosje leader is not eligible to run in upcoming early elections on 14 February. Kurti was given a suspended prison sentence by the Basic Court in Pristina in 2018 found guilty of releasing tear gas in the Parliament chamber. According to the Law on election people who have been found guilty of a criminal offence in the last three years are not eligible to run in the election.

Kurteshi addressing media after the CEC meeting Tuesday said the Vetevendosje has decided not to amend the election list, arguing that the CEC gave no chance to make the replacement. “The Vetevendosje has complained twice and two of its candidates have not been certified, but we were not given the right to replace them. The list is with 110 candidates as it was submitted by the Vetevendosje originally and citizens should vote the list as such,” Kurteshi said.

The CEC and the Supreme Court have not certified three candidates of Vetevendosje: Albin Kurti, Albulena Haxhiu and Bajram Mavriqi. The three have been found guilty of a criminal offence in the last three years. /GazetaExpress/