Management of the CEC Secretariat

66.1 The Secretariat shall be managed by the Chief Executive Officer (hereinafter: “CEO”), and a Deputy Chief Executive Officer (hereinafter: “Deputy CEO”) who shall both be appointed by the CEC. The CEO shall be directly accountable to the CEC.

66.2 The terms of appointment of the CEO, Deputy CEO and the Executive Director of the Office shall be in accordance with the Civil Service Law and may be extended. The CEC may remove the CEO, Deputy CEO or the Executive Director of the Office at any time in accordance with applicable procedures.

66.3 No person may serve as CEO, Deputy CEO of the Secretariat or the Executive Director of the Office if he or she:

a) holds or seeks public office;

b) holds any official post or executive position in a political party; or

c) has been criminally convicted.

66.4 Either the Chief Executive Officer or the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the CEC Secretariat shall attend every meeting of the CEC.

66.5 The CEO shall be responsible for:

a) under direction of the Chair, organizing the agenda for CEC meeting and ensuring all required material is available prior to each meeting;

b) reporting to the CEC on any matter pertaining to the duties of the CECS, with the exception of the Executive Director of the Office;

c) the overall administration and management of the Secretariat and ensuring that the functions entrusted to it are implemented;

d) providing proper guidance to the Secretariat and accurate, impartial and expert advice to the CEC;

e) organizing the Secretariat and issuing administrative procedures on any matters pertaining to its functions;

f) the effective and efficient management of human and financial resources provided to the Secretariat; and

g) implementing non-discriminatory personnel policies within the Secretariat, including equitable gender representation, in all areas and levels and ensuring that the composition of the Secretariat staff reflects the multi-ethnic character of Kosovo.

66.6 The CEO shall designate a financial authorizing officer for the Secretariat and shall ensure compliance with such decisions, administrative instructions and financial rules as may be issued in this regard by the Ministry of Finance and Economy, or other appropriate authorities.

66.7 Staff of the Secretariat shall be selected and employed by the CEO of the CECS in accordance with the procedures established by the Government of Kosovo.

66.8 The CEC shall have an annual appropriation from the Kosovo Consolidated Budget to cover the expenses for the proper function of the Secretariat, based on a budget proposal submitted by the CEC. The CEC shall prepare a separate budget request to the Government of Kosovo each election year.

66.9 The members of the election commissions and employees of the public administration in the service of these commissions are subject to criminal and administrative liability in accordance with the legislation in force for violations of the provisions of this Code.