PAN leads in preliminary results with 34.2 percent

(KTV & Klan Kosova) 

The Central Elections Commission (CEC) has counted all ballots and presented preliminary results. PDK-AAK-Nisma (PAN) coalition is the first one with 34.2 per cent of votes, followed by VV with 27.07 per cent, LAA with 25.71 percent. Srpska List got 5.92 per cent.

The election turnout was around 41.34 percent.

CEC Chairperson Valdete Daka explained to Klan Kosova that the reason why a large number (around 50,000) ballots turned out to be invalid, was a short time which was available for voter education, particularly for young voters. She said that the reason why CEC website was not functional on the Election Day was that that server failed due to a large number of clicks.

Daka announced that final election results will be made public in three weeks.

On the other hand, Burim Ahmetaj, Count and Result Centre coordinator, told KTV that the data of 50 ballot boxes did not match, and consequently they will be investigated.

The election material data entry will delay publication of final results. 

MP mandates to disclose political party powers

(KTV)

Unlike in any post-war election process in Kosovo, political scene in the country has changed.

What was called the war-wing coalition, which joined PDK with the candidate for Prime Minister from AAK, got only 34 percent of votes altogether.

This makes it impossible for them to constitute government with a simple majority.

According to preliminary results and compared with those of 2014 election, the PDK coalition together with 13 other parties, got only 13.000 votes more.

In order to accurately understand which of the parties in the coalition has increased and which one has declined, will become clear only when the list of MPs will be made public, since PDK-AAK-Nisma (PAN) and LDK-AKR-Alternativa (LAA) ran with joint lists.

LDK, for the first time since its existence, turned out to be the third political party in Kosovo, despite joining AKR and Alternativa.

Vetëvendosje Movement, which ran alone, marked its greatest increase, by doubling the number of votes. From 13 percent in 2014, VV, which in this election process was led by its candidate for Prime Minister Albin Kurti, got around 27 percent of votes.

Srpska List got around 6 percent of votes.

These are preliminary results, and they do not include conditional ballots, ballots from persons with special needs, and ballots from diaspora.

VV and LDK have signalled a possible coalition; nevertheless, the situation of previous election may be repeated. According to these results and based on the Constitutional Court verdict from 2014, the winning party or coalition is entitled to the Assembly Speaker, which in this case is PAN.

However, Shpend Ahmeti of VV told KTV that they do not rule out the possibility of electing an Assembly Speaker from PAN, in order to unblock the situation and then government would be elected from a majority consisting of VV and LDK.

On the other hand, the LDK vice chairman Lutfi Haziri ruled out any possibility of allowing PDK to constitute government.

LDK-AKR-Alternativa against coalition with PDK

(All monitored broadcasters, RTK1) 

Following the general elections held on Sunday, leaders of the political entities of LDK-AKR-Alternativa and Lëvizja për Drejtësi coalition, met on Monday and reiterated their stance that they will not be part of the Government in which PDK also takes part.

“The Coalition reiterates the unyielding stance that it will not be part of any government in which PDK is also part. LDK-AKR-Alternativa and Lëvizja për Drejtësi emphasise that the Coalition is unified in all its stances. The Coalition has agreed that LDK chairman, Isa Mustafa, will represent this Coalition,” reads the statement issued following their meeting.

Simic: National and institutional identity kept

(RTK2)

The Srpska List leader Slavko Simic on Monday thanked all those who supported this political entity in the early Assembly elections in Kosovo, highlighting that thus Serbs indicated their unity and retained their national and institutional identity.

In a press release, Simic expressed gratitude for the trust given, and emphasised that candidates of Srpska List as MPs will represent Serb people through a collective institutional and political fight within the Prishtinë/Pristina institutions.

Simic stated that Srpska List has achieved its main political goal, and that according to the latest data, the political entity got nine out of ten seats reserved for Serbs.

Simic said that Srpska List with over 40.000 votes marked record in terms of number of votes ever got by any Serb party in Kosovo, and that in the next Kosovo Assembly composition, the List will have sufficient MPs to prevent changes of the Constitution, changing of borders, and opposing establishment of the so-called Kosovo Army.

Trajkovic and Janjic: Constituting of government will last long

(RTK2)

Kosovo Serbs voted for Srpska List because they can complain to Belgrade in case the List does not work well, said Rada Trajkovic. She added that it would not be possible if an option which was not supported by Serbian authorities would win.

Dusan Janjic, on the other hand, expects that all crucial decisions concerning Kosovo Serbs will be made in Belgrade, thus weakening political influence of Kosovo Serbs.

Both Trajkovic and Janjic believe that the greatest surprise in the early elections was the victory of Vetëvendosje Movement. In their view, it will take long for the government to be constituted.

U.S. Embassy congratulates Kosovo people on democratic elections

(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1) 

The United States Embassy congratulated the people of Kosovo on their democratic elections on Sunday.

“We await with interest the report of the official observation mission.  While we are concerned by some reports of outdated voter registries, double-voting and other sporadic irregularities, we commend the Central Election Commission, the Polling Commissioners, the OSCE and all of the monitoring and observation teams for their hard work.  We also pledge our continued support as the process of vote certification continues, and as all reports of irregularities are thoroughly investigated and resolved in accordance with Kosovo law,” the US Embassy statement reads.

The statement further adds that the voters of Kosovo have spoken, and now the critical process of forming a new government must begin.

“We look forward to working closely with whoever forms the new government.  We hope that all of Kosovo’s newly elected officials, regardless of party affiliation, will commit to taking action for the common good of all citizens of Kosovo. Kosovo has the support of the United States as you continue to move forward on your path to full Euro-Atlantic integration,” the statement concludes.

Lunacek and Hahn call for sooner establishment of Government

(RTK2)

The European Parliament Rapporteur for Kosovo, Ulrike Lunacek, called on Kosovo political parties to establish the new Government that would have a European spirit, while she also welcomed participation of Kosovo Serbs in elections.

“The Central Election Commission (CEC) was successful in organizing these early elections in a short period of time. I also declare with pleasure that most of the process has taken place in a peaceful atmosphere, I encourage continuation of democratic development in Kosovo,” she said.

The European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, also said he respects the will of Kosovo people expressed on Sunday’s elections. Hahn said it is expected that Government in Prishtinë/Pristina will be established faster than last time, when political parties needed six months to form the governing coalition, most TV broadcasters reported.

Thaçi: Dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia to be raised at Presidential level

(RTK1) 

Kosovo President, Hashim Thaçi, said that the dialogue between Prishtinë/Pristina and Belgrade will be raised at the presidential level.

In a statement to Deutsche Welle, Thaçi said the focus of the talks would be in the broader political context to reach an agreement that would lead to good neighbourly relations, co-operation, normalization and reconciliation.

Thaçi’s statement followed the national elections in the country, the outcome of which is not yet final. 

European Parliament discusses Kosovo on Tuesday

(TV21)

Referring to the Association of Serb majority municipalities, the European Parliament with the draft resolution approved by the Committee on Foreign Affairs requires from Kosovo institutions to establish, as soon as possible, the Association with a limited time limit for drafting the Association’s Statute and approve it in the Assembly of Kosovo.

The draft resolution also expresses concern about the presence of Serbia’s parallel structures in Kosovo and seeks finding a mutually acceptable solution regarding the status of Trepça mining complex.

It also urges Serb leaders to take overall responsibility for the country and their role in Kosovo institutions in order for them to function independently from Belgrade and to make a constructive contribution to the wellbeing of Kosovo people. 

In the meantime, it calls on Prishtinë/Pristina institutions to support involvement of Serb representatives in institutions and to build mutual trust by supporting their economic integration.

Constitutional Court annuls appointment of Supreme Court President

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Kosovo’s Constitutional Court has annulled the appointment of Supreme Court President. Thus, the request of Valdete Daka and her advocate Artan Qerkini was approved.

With this decision the Constitutional Court has ordered the Kosovo Judicial Council to hold a new process of voting for the Supreme Court President.

Enver Peci was selected at this post, but Valdete Daka, who also heads the Central Election Commission (CEC), submitted a complaint to the Constitutional Court claiming she was the winner of this voting of KJC to head the Supreme Court of Kosovo.