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By:
Valbona Bytyqi
- February 29, 2024 20:14 AM
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Voting for the dismissal of the mayors in the four municipalities in the north of the country is expected soon. KOHA has learned that the CEC has finished verifying the collected signatures, but this institution has refused to talk about this process.
The Central Election Commission has completed the verification of the signatures of Serbian citizens in the four northern municipalities, KOHA has learned from its sources.
According to them, this process has been completed for several days and soon it is expected that it will be discussed at a CEC meeting.
As KOHA has learned, the required percentage of 20 percent has been reached from the verification, which paves the way for the development of the next phase - the organization of voting for the dismissal of the mayors in the four municipalities in the north.
On January 29, the Central Election Commission announced that it has started verifying the signatures collected for the dismissal of the mayors in the four municipalities with a Serbian majority. A month later, this institution has not indicated where they are with the verification process and when the voting for the dismissal of the mayors in these municipalities is expected to be held.
According to Shkëlqim Jakupi, an expert on issues related to local governance, the verification of signatures should not be a problem for the CEC, unless it encounters major irregularities.
However, Jakupi has expressed concern about the legal vacuum, which he says will accompany the process of sacking the mayors.
"Now, after the verification of the signatures for the initiation of the removal process of the mayors of the municipalities, there are no defined legal deadlines nor relevant institutions, which should take responsibility for the organization of this vote", he said.
He stated that the vote for the dismissal of the mayors should be preceded by discussions between the CEC, the Ministry of Local Government Administration and the municipal bodies.
"Determining the ballot, how they will name the ballot, who will approve the content of that ballot, who will conditionally announce the elections or the voting day, these must go with an internal consultation of to these institutions that are involved in the process and in my opinion the president will have an important role", said Jakupi.
According to the administrative instruction of the MLGA, the voting must take place no later than 45 days from the day of the CEC's determination that the request for the removal of the mayor has been supported by at least 20 percent of the electorate in the respective municipality.
The mayor of the municipality is removed from office if 50 percent, plus 1 voter, votes for his removal. If this phase also passes, then the elections for new mayors are organized.
