European Forum

Kosovo holds first elections since independence

Yesterday (15th of November) Kosovo held its first elections since its declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. The turnout reached 45 per cent, the Central Election Commission (CEC) stated. No major irregularities were reported by the CEC when polling stations closed at 1800 GMT on Sunday. The police reported, however, that six people were detained for trying to disturb the poll.

Political parties promised to tackle not only unemployment, but also corruption, the bad infrastructure and the limited foreign investments. Voters were filling local councils and mayors' seats in 36 municipalities, including the capital Pristina, from among 74 parties and coalitions.

Preliminary results
Democracy in Action, which had more than 2,000 monitors across Kosovo, has released preliminary local election results for 18 municipalities. Prime Minister Hashim Thaci of the ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has claimed to have won more votes than any other party in the elections. PDK has secured victories in Gllogovc, Skenderaj, Ferizaj and Malisheve. Thaci put his party's share of the national vote at "between 38 and 43 per cent," a reflection of his party's efforts and promises to help local communities with roads, water, jobs and other issues. "The victory of our party it is also a referendum for our good governance in the Republic of Kosovo," Thaci told party supporters in the early hours on 16 November amid champagne and fireworks.

According to the coalition of NGOs, President Fatmir Sejdiu’s Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) gained 58 per cent in Pristina with its candidate Isa Mustafa, ensuring that he would not need to go to a second round to retain his position as mayor. PDK's government coalition partner LDK has also guaranteed that its candidate, Agim Veliu, will become mayor of Podujevo, with 52 per cent of the vote.

Opposition party the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) has won outright the mayoralties of Decan and Gjakove. Bojan Stojaovic, of the Serbian Liberal Party (SLS) secured 57 per cent of the vote and the position of mayor of Gracanica. The Turkish party (KDTP) won 75 per cent of the vote in the new municipality of Mamushe, ensuring its candidate does not need to go to the second round.

The second round is planned to take place on Sunday, 13 December, for parties that did not gain a majority of 50 per cent in a municipality. Results for the remaining 18 municipalities are expected later today.

Low turnout
Analysts say the low turnout of 45 per cent, reflects the disappointment many Kosovars feel in their leaders for failing to improve the economy of one of Europe's poorest countries. While the turnout among Kosovo's Serbian minority was minimal, the highest turnout was recorded in the new Turkish-majority municipality of Mamusha, where 66 per cent of eligible voters visited the ballot box.

The attention was in particular focused on the 120,000-strong ethnic Serb community. A high turnout among this group would mean that the poll was a big succes. Before the elections, Serbian leaders in Belgrade and the influential Serbian Orthodox Church, however, called on the Serbs to boycott the poll. Local media reported that despite these calls Serbian voters from the southern parts of the country voted for their new municipalities as foreseen in the Kosovo independence plan drafted by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari. The turnout was, nevertheless, minimal. According to the CEC, the turnout in Serb-dominated areas was as follows: Leposavić 0.83, Zubin Potok 6.64, Zvečan 0.75. Gračanica 23.62, Ranilug 13.89, Klokot 25.39, Novo Brdo 25.64 Štrpce 30.91 percent. Besides that, Serbs lost in the last two municipalities.

Historical day
The local poll is seen as a key test for Kosovo, which wants to establish itself as a fully functioning democracy and gain acceptance from more countries than the 63 that have so far recognised it as an independent state. PM Thaci, called the election day a “historical day for Kosovo”.

Many have suggested that that Kosovo's success in organizing legitimate elections would increase the chance that more countries recognize Kosovo’s independence. Kosovar Albanian Kastriot Zhubi, a Pristina resident, said he had "high hopes" about the election and its effect on Kosovo's future. "Local elections are decisive for democracy and for progress of this nation after the independence," Zhubi said. "They should be honest and democratic”. Others, like Agim Burjani said they did not believe the elections would bring any change: "I have no hopes. It has been 10 years now [since the end of the war] and things are not moving as they should."

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, nine years after NATO bombs drove out Serb forces to stop the killing of ethnic Albanians in a two-year counter-insurgency war.

Sources: B92; Balkan Insight; EUObserver; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; NRC Handelsblad (Dutch)