UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, February 10, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Over 88 percent of votes counted: VV first with 41.29, PDK second with 21.83%, LDK third with 17.75% (media)
VV celebrates after midnight, opposition satisfied with growth (media)
CEC: Data will be collected manually (media)
President requests from CEC to protect integrity of electoral process (RTK)
State Prosecutor's Office has not launched an investigation against CEC (RTK)
Abdixhiku: I take responsibility for the result (media)
PDK: We are the second largest political force, the best result in years (media)
Haradinaj: Opposition won elections, looking forward to cooperate on formation of government (media)
AJK: We call on parties not to hinder journalists from carrying out their duties (RTK)
CEC: Voter turnout over 40.04 (media)
Police: Electoral process passed peacefully and without serious incidents (media)
Begaj: Congratulations to citizens of Kosovo who expressed their free will with Sunday's vote (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Parliamentary elections concluded in Kosovo, Serbian List declares victory (Kosovo Online, Alternativna.com, media)
Vucic: Serbian List won all 10 seats, congratulations to our people (Kosovo Online, media)
Drecun: High turnout in northern Kosovo indicates that Serbs understood message of unity (media)
Kosovo first regular elections since 2008 marred by police presence at polling sites (KoSSev)
Kosovo police: Election process went calm, no major incidents (Kosovo Online)
Blagojevich: Trump to change US approach to Serbia (Tanjug)
Gazela bridge in Belgrade blocked to mark 100 days since Novi Sad tragedy (N1)

International Media:

Kosovo PM's party leading but short of majority, exit poll shows (BBC)
Kosovo's exit polls show PM Albin Kurti's party leading (euronews)
Kosovo votes amid ethnic tension (Vatican News)
Kosovo’s Kurti tops polls as second term likely to revive Belgrade-Pristina talks (Euractiv)

Albanian Language Media

Over 88 percent of votes counted: VV first with 41.29, PDK second with 21.83%, LDK third with 17.75% (media)

The Vetevendosje Movement leads with 41.29 percent of the votes after counting of more than 88 percent of the votes, according to the latest data from the Central Election Commission updated at 06:00 in the morning. PDK ranks second with 21.83%, LDK third with 17.75%, and AAK 7.68%. While the Lista for Family Coalition has received 2.31%.

VV celebrates after midnight, opposition satisfied with growth (media)

The candidate of Vetevendosje for prime minister, Albin Kurti, made two appearances after midnight where he declared victory, in coalition with the Guxo List and Alternativa. He declared to his supporters in "Skenderbeu" Square in Prishtina that the electoral process was democratic and peaceful. Kurti said that there has never been more war than against this government, while using insulting words against the opposition.

"There has never been more war than against this government. With oligarchs who give money without accounting, and with the opposition who make deals even with the devil against our government. Even though they have lost again, they will remain an opposition, because they do not want the best for either the state or the people," Kurti said.

In his first appearance, Kurti said that he is the winner of the elections, adding that he will continue his third mandate with "Guxo" and "Alternativa". He told the media that he will continue his work.

"Everything went according to procedures, I thank the Police and law enforcement agencies in general. We are the first and this is confirmation of a good, prosperous and democratic government. Our coalition will form our third government. It will continue its work... The people won, Vetevendosje won. We are the winning entity that will form the next government. It is clear to everyone that those who came second and third, if they get together, will not do as well as we do", Kurti said.

CEC: Data will be collected manually (media)

The Chairman of the Central Election Commission, Kreshnik Radoniqi, has said that the preliminary data for the parliamentary elections will be collected manually because the platform is not functioning.

He has guaranteed that it will not have an impact on the results. While after being collected manually, they will be put on the internet. But he has not given a timeframe for when this might happen.

“Everything was ready to transmit the preliminary results in the past, the application has not worked, we are not able to transmit the data through the platform. We apologize to all citizens. Under these circumstances, we have reviewed the situation and will collect the data manually. We assure citizens that the failure to transmit the preliminary data through the electronic platform has no impact on the result. After we collect it, we will publish it, I don’t know, at 3 or 4 in the morning,” Radoniqi said.

President requests from CEC to protect integrity of electoral process (RTK)

President Vjosa Osmani has congratulated the residents who have shown a high democratic culture in this electoral process. After the CEC server crashed, she has requested protection of the integrity of the electoral process.

She has expressed the expectation that the CEC will successfully complete the vote count by Sunday night. However, after the software failure, information confirmed by the CEC, the president has requested that the integrity of the electoral process be protected, ensuring that every vote is counted correctly.

Further, in the statement published by the Presidency, it is announced that Osmani will continue to be in contact with all relevant institutions, until it is fully ensured that the entire electoral process, including the counting and publication of the results, is carried out in accordance with the highest democratic standards and in accordance with the will of the people.

State Prosecutor's Office has not launched an investigation against CEC (RTK)

The State Prosecutor's Office has denied the news circulating about the launch of investigations into the CEC, after the failure of the online platform for presenting election results.

Liridone Kozmaqi Hajdaraj, head of the Communication Office at the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor, has announced that the State Prosecutor, including the Special Prosecutor's Office, has not issued an order to launch investigations against the Central Election Commission (CEC). "I inform you that the State Prosecutor, including the Special Prosecutor's Office, has not issued an order to launch investigations against the CEC," she stated in a response to RTK.

Abdixhiku: I take responsibility for the result (media)

The leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo, Lumir Abdixhiku, has said that he takes responsibility for the election result himself, while he will only be accountable to the LDK and its voters. At a press conference late Sunday, Abdixhiku also announced preliminary results and congratulated all parties on the electoral process.

“According to the count taken by the LDK commissioners and observers, the LDK received 158,954 votes or 18.1 percent, the LVV received 347,543 votes or 39.8 percent, the PDK received 190,363 votes or 21.8 percent, and the AAK-Nisma received 66,635 votes or 7.6 percent,” he announced.

Abdixhiku said they expect to have around 30-35 thousand votes from the diaspora and will bring the result to around 190 thousand votes. "Although we have a significant increase, it is not a satisfactory result. This result most likely gives us the status of the opposition," said Abdixhiku, while there was criticism of the CEC's failure to present the preliminary results. "I have no intention of resigning," he added.

PDK: We are the second largest political force, the best result in years (media)

The spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Blerand Stavileci, has highly praised the voters of this entity for, as he said, their trust in the campaign and their cause. But, as he said, despite the results of the Exit Polls, according to their commissioners and observers, PDK will have even greater growth than projected so far. "We remain careful that every vote is defended with correctness and transparency".

"We inform you that during the evening, the PDK candidate for prime minister, Bedri Hamza, will hold another conference, to share with you his reflections and all further steps. This is just the beginning of a good path for Kosovo, a path for the better. We are talking about a process that is not yet over. Our result is encouraging. What was said in the Exit Poll results, of course, confirms a significant increase for PDK, but again, from the data we receive from the field, from our commissioners and observers, it appears that we will have an even greater increase than what was projected." Stavileci said that PDK has won over 200 thousand votes.

Haradinaj: Opposition won elections, looking forward to cooperate on formation of government (media)

The leader of AAK and the candidate for prime minister from the coalition for a Winning Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, said in a press conference that the coalition he leads expects a double-digit result in these elections. “I thank the citizens of Kosovo for the culture shown, they have made us proud of the way the voting process has continued. We thank the activists but also all those who voted for the coalition 137, for a Winning Kosovo. We already have the first results, they are preliminary. We are sure that we have a double-digit result, we are waiting for an hour and a half for the results. What makes me happy is the fact that the opposition has won these elections. I wish the opposition victory and look forward to cooperating on the creation of an opposition government in Kosovo," Haradinaj said.

AJK: We call on parties not to hinder journalists from carrying out their duties (RTK)

The Association of Kosovo Journalists has called on the parties involved in the electoral process not to hinder journalists from reporting. “We call on all parties not to hinder journalists from carrying out their professional duties, while law enforcement agencies to guarantee a safe environment for their work,” their reaction states.

AJK emphasized that any form of harassment or threats against journalists is unacceptable and a danger to democracy. The institution further recalls that journalists have a key role in democratic processes and should not be the target of attacks or pressures.

CEC: Voter turnout over 40.04 (media)

The Central Election Commission has announced that according to preliminary data, the voter turnout in the 2025 parliamentary elections was over 40%. “Based on preliminary data from 2297 polling stations or 90.68% of them, out of a total of 2533, in the elections for the Assembly of Kosovo in February 2025, 40.04% or 789,172 voters out of 1,970,944 from the list with the right to vote, voted,” said CEC spokesperson Valmir Elezi.

Police: Electoral process passed peacefully and without serious incidents (media)

The Kosovo Police announced through a press release, that the operational plan envisaged for the smooth conduct of the electoral process, during and after the electoral process, was successfully implemented throughout the territory of Kosovo. “The implementation of the police plan, inter-institutional cooperation and coordination has had a positive impact on the entire electoral process passing peacefully and without any major incident that would have hindered/harmed the electoral process, therefore, assessed in terms of security, the electoral process passed peacefully and without serious incidents,” the press release states.

Begaj: Congratulations to citizens of Kosovo who expressed their free will with Sunday's vote (media)

The President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, has congratulated the people of Kosovo for the development of the electoral process on February 9. “Congratulations to the citizens of Kosovo who expressed their free will with Sunday's vote! We wish the new Government that emerged from the elections to continue working for the good of the country by developing reforms and advancing economic progress and in cooperation with international partners for a stable Kosovo capable of advancing in Euro-Atlantic processes,” Begaj wrote on the Facebook platform.

Serbian Language Media

Parliamentary elections concluded in Kosovo, Serbian List declares victory (Kosovo Online, Alternativna.com, media)

Regular parliamentary elections concluded yesterday in Kosovo. There were in total 2.075.868 eligible voters, with 1.970.944 living in Kosovo and 104.924 living abroad. 1.280 candidates competed for 120 mandates, as part of 28 election entities.

Six political parties and initiatives of the Serbian community competed for 10 mandates at the Kosovo Assembly. These include: Serbian List, Serbian Democracy, Serban People’s Movement, Party of Kosovo Serbs, List for Freedom, Democracy and Survival and Civic Initiative People’s Justice.

The polling stations opened at 7.00 and closed at 19.00. As Kosovo police said in a statement no major incidents were recorded. Euronews in Serbian reported that the website of the Central Election Commission in Pristina crashed last night due to overload. It also said some analysts and opposition expressed doubts it was done intentionally and that votes counting was irregular.

Zlatan Elek, Serbian List President said in a press conference last night that based on the votes counted in all Serbian communities in Kosovo, Serbian List is the absolute winner of these elections. He added that all ten seats in parliament are in the hands of the Serbian List and the Serbian people.

"Preliminary results show that we won more than 40,000 votes in these impossible conditions. I want to remind you of the dirtiest and most brutal campaign that was waged against the Serbian List and the terror carried out by the Albin Kurti regime", Elek said. He thanked all Serbs who voted for the Serbian List, including those expelled from Kosovo who came to cast ballots yesterday.

Branimir Stojanovic, one of the leaders of the Serbian People’s Movement, was the first Serbian political representative to speak to the media following the closure of the polling stations. “Although results are disappointing, we are not giving up and will keep our heads held high. We did all we could, knew and were able and we will move ahead. We can only congratulate those who achieved results outside of all expectations and it is obvious that this system of authority, they conduct, suits people”, Stojanovic said.

Nenad Rasic, current Kosovo Minister of Communities and Returns and leader of For Freedom, Democracy and Survival party disputed the declared victory of the Serbian List in elections and number of votes this party said it received, adding that his party is absolutely convinced they will be part of the parliament and have perhaps won not one but even more MP seats. Rasic also said they will wait for official results of the elections.

Aleksandar Jablanovic, leader of the Party of Kosovo Serbs in his reaction said the elections showed whom Serbs in Kosovo trust the most. He and his party also congratulated the Serbian List on election victory and on free and fair elections. “We wish Serbs that the Serbian List rules them for the next 100 years. We congratulate the Serbian List on regular and clear victory and for winning all 10 MPs seats”, Jablanovic said.

Vucic: Serbian List won all 10 seats, congratulations to our people (Kosovo Online, media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said last night that based on results of parliamentary elections in Kosovo, Serbian List secured all ten seats and “will be a barrier against further attacks by Albin Kurti”, Kosovo Online portal reported.

"We are still waiting for the results from Srbica, but only 143 Serbs turned out there. Yet the results are clear, the Serbian List won ten out of ten possible seats. Congratulations to the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. These results are almost unbelievable, especially considering everything that (Albin) Kurti did to destroy the Serbian people and the Serbian List. Everything that many foreigners did to destroy the Serbian List, secretly and openly aiding all others against the strongest Serbian representative", Vucic said in a video message from the Office for Kosovo and Metohija premises.

He congratulated the Serbian List and expressed gratitude to the Serbian people. "This also represents enormous trust in me. The Serbian List won without the votes from Srbica and without internally displaced persons, receiving 38,533 votes, while the next highest received 3,217 votes. It is quite clear that the Serbian List undoubtedly secures all ten mandates and will be a barrier to further attacks by Kurti", Vucic said.

Drecun: High turnout in northern Kosovo indicates that Serbs understood message of unity (media)

Chairman of the Serbian Assembly Committee for Defence and Internal Affairs Milovan Drecun said last night that high turnout of voters in northern Kosovo indicates understanding of the importance that Serbian people attached to these elections and the message sent by Belgrade that there should be political unity embodied in the Serbian List, Politika daily reported.

He opined Serbs in the north of Kosovo took part in elections in order to fight for improvement of their position and creating a more safe environment, as well as “to put an end to the mindless policy of terror Albin Kurti is pursuing against the Serbs”.

Drecun told Tanjug if the Serbian List would win all ten mandates, Belgrade could influence some political processes to the benefits of the Serbian people or end some which are detrimental to them.

Kosovo first regular elections since 2008 marred by police presence at polling sites (KoSSev)

Were election laws violated at certain polling stations in Kosovo today?, KoSSev portal asked in an article published yesterday. Kosovo is holding parliamentary elections on Sunday - the first regular elections since 2008. Of the 28 political entities participating, a record six represent the Serbian community in Kosovo.

According to the previously determined plan, two municipal buildings in northern Kosovo - one in Zubin Potok and the other in Zvecan - were designated as polling centers for conditional voting. However, these buildings have housed Kosovo police units, including special forces, since 2023, when they took control of the facilities.

On Sunday, uniformed and armed police officers were observed inside these buildings, standing near voters, as well as outside in the immediate vicinity of other polling stations.

International Media

Kosovo PM's party leading but short of majority, exit poll shows (BBC)

Kosovo's ruling party is on track to win the largest number of votes in Sunday's parliamentary election, but fall short of a majority of seats, an exit poll predicts.

Vetevendosje, the party of Prime Minister Albin Kurti, will win 42% of the vote, the Koha News portal says, which would translate to 47 seats in the 120-seat parliament.

The centre-left governing party is expected to come ahead of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) on 21%, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) on 20% and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) on 6%, the exit poll shows.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/muhpasa9

Kosovo's exit polls show PM Albin Kurti's party leading (euronews)

Although exit polls show Kosovo PM's party is leading, it falls short of a majority.

Voting closed on Sunday in Kosovo's parliamentary elections, and the first exit polls from Klan Kosova TV show Albin Kurti's Lévizja Vetëvendosje (LVV) leading with 40.3%, followed by the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) at 21.4%, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) at 19.3%, the Coalition for a Winning Kosovo at 7.2%, and the List for the Family at 1.8%.

This parliamentary election is considered a key test for Prime Minister Albin Kurti as talks on normalizing ties with rival Serbia remain stalled and foreign funding for one of Europe's poorest countries in question.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/3ux5cht6

Kosovo votes amid ethnic tension (Vatican News)

The people of Kosovo began voting Sunday in an election that analysts say could mark another milestone in the young country's history as it may determine its future territorial integrity in an increasingly volatile region.

By Stefan J. Bos

Camera crews struggle to get a glimpse of Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti as he casts his ballot in the parliamentary election of this small but strategic Balkan nation of 1.6 million people.

Opinion polls suggested that his nationalist Vetëvendosje ("Self-determination") party would receive the most votes but not enough to form a majority government.

Yet Kurti already warned he wasn't interested in a coalition with any significant opposition parties, suggesting more political turmoil in Kosovo.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/yk8env27

Kosovo’s Kurti tops polls as second term likely to revive Belgrade-Pristina talks (Euractiv)

After Sunday’s polls, Kosovo’s stalled normalisation talks with neighbouring Serbia could see a revival but not become any easier. Exit polls showed incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Vetëvendosje party in first place, with 38.2% of Sunday’s vote, losing ground from…

After Sunday's polls, Kosovo’s stalled normalisation talks with neighbouring Serbia could see a revival but not become any easier.

Exit polls showed incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Vetëvendosje party in first place, with 38.2% of Sunday’s vote, losing ground from 50% in 2021.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/mrhyedza