PZAP Fines Political Parties in Kosovo Once Again

The Election Complaints and Appeals Panel (PZAP) has once again issued fines against political entities in Kosovo, with the Vetëvendosje Movement (LVV) being fined a total of €30,500 due to five recent complaints filed by political parties and organizations. The complaints were lodged by the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) (three complaints), the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) (one complaint), and the Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) (one complaint). The fines were imposed for violations of the Code of Conduct for Political Entities, Their Supporters, and Candidates.

Breakdown of Fines Against LVV

€3,000 fine: LDK filed a complaint against LVV after Dimal Basha, an LVV candidate for parliament, posted on Facebook a photo of former Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti (LDK) alongside a photo of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, captioned:
“The offer for February 9 summarized in one photo.”
Basha has also been ordered to remove the post from social media.
€3,000 fine: The Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) filed a complaint against LVV, claiming that children under the age of 15 were identified attending an LVV rally in Gjilan.
€5,000 fine: PDK complained about Albin Kurti’s rhetoric during an LVV event in Gjilan.
€15,000 fine: Another PDK complaint resulted in a fine against LVV for violating the Code of Conduct.
€4,500 fine: PDK filed an additional complaint regarding another violation of the Code of Conduct by LVV.

Fines Against Other Political Parties

€10,000 fine against PDK: Due to an LVV complaint alleging that PDK supporters obstructed an LVV rally in Skenderaj.
€10,000 fine against PDK: Another LVV complaint claimed that a PDK supporter insulted Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
€2,000 fine against LDK: LVV complained that a campaign banner of LDK candidate Bahrije Hyseni was placed on a public lighting pole.
€20,000 fine against the AAK-NISMA-Intellectuals coalition: LVV filed a complaint against the coalition, specifically regarding Hajdar Sutaj, Chairman of the Deçan Municipal Assembly. Sutaj allegedly posted a photo of Foreign Minister Donika Gërvalla with derogatory remarks and placed an X-mark over her image.

These fines reflect the increasing number of electoral violations and campaign tensions as Kosovo approaches the February 9 parliamentary elections.