Statement by Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States

We commend the cooperation and coordination of the KJC and CEC chair in the first-ever formal certification of municipal elections candidates using nationwide court records.

We call on the elections commission, in accordance with Kosovo law, to disqualify those candidates for whom the courts have certified ‎final convictions in the past three years.

The first step in electing credible, accountable officials is ensuring all candidates meet the minimum public trust requirements under the law.

But in democratic elections, citizens have the final word. Citizens have the power to reject criminality and demand capable and ethical public officials.