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Kosovo Holds Historic Parliamentary Elections

December 12, 2010

Voting has begun in Kosovo to choose a new parliament in the first such elections since the territory's ethnic Albanian leaders declared independence from Serbia nearly three years ago.

Opinion polls have indicated that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) of outgoing Prime Minister Hashim Thaci was in the lead, but unlikely to win an outright majority.

The PDK's former coalition partner, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) led by Pristina Mayor Isa Mustafa, was making a strong challenge.

The international community will be watching the vote and its aftermath closely to see whether the Serbian minority integrates into political life.

The European Union has urged Kosovar authorities to ensure a free and fair vote, saying this is a key condition for productive future ties with the bloc.

Speaking after casting his ballot in Pristina, Thaci said Kosovo was voting today for "integration into the European Union and the United Nations."

'What Will Change?'

Fighting corruption and an unemployment rate of nearly 50 percent have been the main issues for voters during the election campaign.

"Today Kosovo votes for a European future, for a European Kosovo, for visa liberalization, for Kosovo as a NATO member, for integration into the EU and the United Nations, and for a better life for our citizens," the PDK's Thaci said after voting in Pristina.

"This is an important day for Kosovo; it is an important day for developing democracy and governance in Kosovo," LDK leader Mustafa said after casting his ballot.

"I trust the citizens will choose the best ones, the ones they think that will govern rightly in the future. I believe that these elections will be successful and all of us will be happy with the outcome."

But Pristina resident Arlinda Krasniqi tells RFE/RL's Balkan Service that no big changes are expected from today's vote.

"It will be the same, because we have seen no changes until now and I believe it will continue to be the same."

Polls are due to close at 7 p.m. local time.

Around 1.6 million voters are eligible to choose from 1,265 candidates from 29 parties, who are vying for 120 seats in the country's parliament.

Twenty seats have been reserved for ethnic minorities, including 10 that have been guaranteed to ethnic Serbian candidates.

Strong Serbian Resistance

But as in past elections, Belgrade, which still considers the territory its southern province, has called on the 120,000-strong ethnic Serbian minority in Kosovo not to vote.

While in past elections turnout among ethnic Serbs was around 2 percent, this time observers are expecting more to cast ballots.

But Jovan Nikolic, a Serb from the ethnically divided northern town of Mitrovica, remains adamant in his determination not to vote.

"I will for sure participate in elections declared by our own country [Serbia], but I will in no way participate in elections organized by Kosovo institutions, which are illegal," Nikolic says.

The snap election was triggered by parliament overwhelmingly backing a no-confidence motion last month, bringing down the government that led the country to independence from Serbia in February 2008.

In the almost three years since then, Kosovo has struggled to establish itself as an independent country.

So far some 70 countries, including the United States and most EU members, have recognized Kosovo as an independent country.

Serbia's ally Russia has been among the countries opposing the territory's membership as an independent state in the United Nations.

More than a decade after NATO air strikes broke Belgrade's control, most Serbs continue to live in enclaves guarded by NATO-led peacekeepers, mostly concentrated in northern Kosovo.

written by Antoine Blua, with material from RFE/RL's Balkan Service and news agency reports

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/kosovo_elections/2245865.html

Copyright (c) 2010. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.