UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, February 12, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

EU observation mission presents preliminary findings on Kosovo elections (media)
Kallas and Kos: Implement dialogue obligations without delay and preconditions (Reporteri)
Kurti announces government formation (media)
Haradinaj: Complete failure of CEC’s system in parliamentary elections (media)
Osmani meets J.D. Vance, “lasting alliance, destined for continuous strengthening” (media)
EU observers hail peaceful and vibrant Kosovo elections, criticize harsh rhetoric (PI)
Orav: New government must fulfill tasks so that Kosovo can join the EU (Koha)
Kurti writes to EU: Serbia is oppressing Albanians in Presevo Valley (media)
VV complains that 716 of its votes were registered to another entity (Koha)
Rasic accuses Serbian List of trying to manipulate his party’s votes (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

Petkovic: Central Election Commission not recording Serbian votes, attempt to tamper electoral will is underway (Kosovo Online, media, social media)
Milovic says some want to alter will of Serbian people, calls on election observers to upheld democracy (Kosovo Online)
CEC’s update on Tuesday, at 18.30: Serbian List won 37.529 votes, For Freedom, Justice and Survival 3.913 (KoSSev)
Democracy in Action: Delays in vote counting undermine confidence in electoral process (Radio KIM)
Vote counting in Pristina Counting Centre interrupted over clash between Self-determination and LDK members (media)
Vucevic: Every day of blockades, strikes carries high economic cost for Serbia (Tanjug)
Vucic: Statehood Day rally will be held in Sremska Mitrovica (N1)
Serbian students begin march to Kragujevac for Statehood Day protest (N1)

International Media:

Kosovo’s leader faces hunt for coalition partners after election (Financial Times)

Albanian Language Media

EU observation mission presents preliminary findings on Kosovo elections (media)

Chief Observer Nathalie Loiseau, Member of the European Parliament, presented the preliminary findings of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to the 2025 parliamentary elections.

“I would like to congratulate voters who took part in this historic election for Kosovo, the first after a full parliamentary term. This is also the first election under the new electoral law, which implements many previous EU recommendations”, said Chief Observer Nathalie Loiseau at a press conference in Pristina today.

Nathalie Loiseau continued: “The elections were peaceful and competitive, but polarisation and deep divisions were evident in the harsh campaign rhetoric and the uneven playing field between the main parties and small non-majority parties. This is not helped by the deadlock of the Independent Media Commission.”

Although the election administration generally enjoys stakeholders’ confidence, the election process witnessed attempts by the ruling party of politicisation of key institutions, particularly the Central Election Commission (CEC) and the Independent Media Commission (IMC). The CEC became entangled in political disputes and politicised certain technical aspects of the electoral process. The attempt by Lëvizja Vetëvendosje-nominated members of the CEC to prevent the certification of Srpska Lista, and the blocking of the disbursement of public funding to political parties, placed significant pressure on the institution.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/eI9R2

Kallas and Kos: Implement dialogue obligations without delay and preconditions (Reporteri)

The European Union's chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, and the Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, have issued a joint statement regarding the parliamentary elections held on Sunday in Kosovo, which they have assessed as peaceful and democratic. They have called on Kosovo to implement the obligations arising from the Normalization Agreement and all past agreements, without delay or preconditions.

"Kosovo is expected to implement its obligations arising from the Normalization Roadmap Agreement, as well as all past Dialogue agreements without further delay or preconditions. There is no alternative to the EU-facilitated Dialogue," the EU statement says. It also mentions their continued engagement with the authorities to support Kosovo on its path to the EU.

“We look forward to the constitution of the new Assembly and the new Government and to continuing our engagement with the authorities, with the aim of supporting Kosovo in moving closer to the EU and taking full advantage of important opportunities such as the Western Balkans Growth Plan. We call on the authorities in Kosovo to engage in responsible regional cooperation and to intensify their efforts to strengthen the rule of law and public administration, as well as to protect freedom of expression. Progress in the normalization of relations with Serbia is the only way for Kosovo to make progress on its European path,” the statement says.

Finally, it is emphasized that the European Commission is ready to prepare an opinion on Kosovo’s application for EU membership, as soon as the Council requests it. Kosovo submitted its application in December 2022.

Kurti announces government formation (media)

The leader of the Vetevendosje Movement (LVV), Albin Kurti, has said that his party has scored an undisputed victory in the parliamentary elections, emphasizing that the result is clear in most municipalities in Kosovo. Through a post on Facebook, Kurti emphasized the dominance of LVV in most municipalities, even without including conditional votes and those from the diaspora.

“Undisputed victory, with votes from every corner. In 21 municipalities we lead as winners, according to preliminary results, without conditional votes and those from the diaspora. Citizens entrusted us with a new mandate to govern the country, and the work of the new government continues as soon as the results are certified. Until then, we will take care of preserving every vote you have entrusted to us,” Kurti wrote.

Haradinaj: Complete failure of CEC’s system in parliamentary elections (media)

Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that “the capture of independent institutions by Kurti’s government has reached its peak with the complete failure of the CEC [Central Election Commission] system in the parliamentary elections. For the first time in the history of independent Kosovo, the preliminary results of elections are not known even after 24 hours. This is a direct consequence of replacing professional staff members with party hardliners and recruiting IT companies through suspicious one-source tenders”.

Haradinaj went on to say that “the reports we are getting from the field show there is an organized scheme of manipulating the election results. Through the political control of the CEC and ‘the failed technical system’ which is intentional, there are attempts to change the will of the people. This is a serious blow against democracy and the values we have fought for”.

Haradinaj also said that “we will not allow the people’s vote to be changed through manipulating schemes. We will use all institutional and legal mechanisms to protect the integrity of the election process and the people’s will. We call on judicial institutions to urgently take measures and investigate the manipulations that have happened so far and to prevent the further degradation of the process”.

Osmani meets J.D. Vance, “lasting alliance, destined for continuous strengthening” (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said in a post on X on Tuesday that she was “honored to exchange views with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance during the AI Summit in Paris”. She also said that there is a lasting alliance between Kosovo and the U.S., “destined for continuous strengthening”.

EU observers hail peaceful and vibrant Kosovo elections, criticize harsh rhetoric (PI)

The EU election observation team labeled Kosovo's February 9 parliamentary elections as peaceful and vibrant overall despite harsh rhetoric by political parties and interference from Serbia.

The European Union Election Observation Mission in a press conference on Tuesday presented its assessment of the February 9 parliamentary elections in Kosovo, assessing it as a process that overall demonstrated resilience and a commitment to democratic principles.

According to EU observers, the elections were peaceful and competitive, with participation from all communities, testing a new legal framework.

“The campaign was vibrant despite the presence of harsh rhetoric reflecting deep political divisions. Election day was well-managed due to the collegial efforts of polling station staff, overcoming challenges posed by the belated decisions of the Central Election Commission, CEC,” the report reads.

Nathalie Loiseau, Chief Observer of the EU Election Observation Mission and Member of the European Parliament, presented the mission’s preliminary statement on the parliamentary campaign and election process in Kosovo.

Serbian Language Media

Petkovic: Central Election Commission not recording Serbian votes, attempt to tamper electoral will is underway (Kosovo Online, media, social media)

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic in a post on X social platform had asked Head of the EU Office in Pristina, Aivo Orav, how it is possible that Central Election Commission (CEC) for 20 hours already was not recording data from 0.83% of polling stations in three municipalities with a Serbian majority, adding it is about Serbian votes important for the Serbian List, Kosovo Online portal reported.

"For 20 hours now, the CEC was not recording data from 0.83% of polling stations in Leposavic, KM (Kosovska Mitrovica), and Gnjilane, and it is about Serbian votes important for Serbian List. How come votes have been recorded from 99.17% of polling stations across Kosovo and Metohija, but not Serbian votes? An attempt to tamper electoral will is underway", Petkovic wrote in a post.

Milovic says some want to alter will of Serbian people, calls on election observers to upheld democracy (Kosovo Online)

Serbian List Vice President Dragisa Milovic told Kosovo Online portal yesterday victory of the Serbian List was magnificent despite the campaign waged against the party. He called on the European Union Election Observation Mission to, as he said, protect the democratic will of people from strange occurrences which are happening during the vote-counting process. Milovic also expressed concern that someone is trying to manipulate the will of the Serbian people.

"During the vote-counting process, we see that, at the very least, strange things are happening. This raises serious doubts among all of us in the Serbian List that someone wants to alter the will of Serbian citizens. More than 2,500 Serbian votes have not been entered into the system, which suggests that someone is trying to push their favourites into parliament. The Serbian List has precise data from all Serbian communities, and based on that data, there is no doubt that we won all ten mandates", Milovic stated.

He called on the election observers to ensure democracy is upheld. "We urge the European Union Election Observation Mission to increase its engagement in protecting democracy from tyranny because if we do not safeguard every vote, the legitimacy of this election process will be seriously questioned", Milovic said.

CEC’s update on Tuesday, at 18.30: Serbian List won 37.529 votes, For Freedom, Justice and Survival 3.913 (KoSSev)

KoSSev portal reported last night preliminary results of the parliamentary elections in Kosovo are still being updated, adding results from a few polling stations were still missing. As the portal said It was also uncertain if the Serbian List will win all 10 mandates, as the latest Central Election Commission’s update of the results from 18.30 on Tuesday showed that party of the outgoing Kosovo Minister for Communities and Returns, Nenad Rasic, For Freedom, Justice and Survival (DPO) may win one mandate. According to that latest update Serbian List won 37.529 votes and For Freedom, Justice, and Survival won 3.913 votes.

The votes from 2.522 polling stations out of 2.533 were counted. The KoSSev portal said that the website of the Central Election Commission was not available several times on Tuesday and functioned with difficulties.

The portal also said that on election day on Sunday despite, as it said, bragging of the Central Election Commission to count votes swiftly and update results, as well as the first implementation of the new Law on Elections, the election day passed under visibly difficult conditions for the work in northern municipalities.

Results for some municipalities were late for more than 20 hours, and for Mitrovica North they were available only 24 hours after despite the installed system of “smart elections”. The CEC was late to process data, and at the end of the voting day the CEC’s online system crashed completely. Although CEC blamed technical problems caused by overload of the system and huge interest, some connoisseurs of the situation expressed doubts in election regularity, respectively that the problem in the functioning of the website was caused “deliberately”, the portal further wrote. The Basic Prosecution in Pristina has authorised Kosovo police yesterday to open an investigation over the crash of the Central Election Commission website, Pristina-based media reported.

Democracy in Action: Delays in vote counting undermine confidence in electoral process (Radio KIM)

The coalition of non-governmental organizations Democracy in Action assessed that delays in vote counting for candidates of Kosovo Assembly undermine confidence in the electoral process, Radio KIM reported. They recalled that election day in Kosovo passed in a peaceful manner and without serious incidents, adding the process was disrupted by the failure of the Central Election Commission (CEC) electronic system to announce preliminary results, "leaving the public without information until the next day".

According to applicable legislation only votes for political entities are initially counted at regular polling stations, while their verification and vote counting for candidates of political entities must begin the day after the election. Democracy in Action pointed out that "the process of vote counting for candidates was supposed to start on Monday, at 8 o'clock in 38 municipal counting centres (OCB)”.

"However, due to what CEC considers 'technical and administrative problems', this process has not started yet. Just today (Tuesday), the CEC announced the process will start at 4:00 p.m., but only in four municipalities", they added. They also said "this action is an improvisation creating the impression that the situation is under control", however “reality is actually different". Democracy in Action called on CEC to quickly and transparently share information on the progress of the counting process in the Municipal Counting Centres and the receipt of by mail ballots from abroad.

Vote counting in Pristina Counting Centre interrupted over clash between Self-determination and LDK members (media)

Vote counting for the candidates for Kosovo Assembly at Pristina Municipal Counting Centre was interrupted last night because of an incident between committee members from Self-determination and Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) parties, Kosovo Online portal reported.

There was first verbal conflict and at one moment members of commissions started pushing one another, after which police intervened. The verbal acceleration between Self-determination and LDK members occurred over disputes whether to declare some votes valid or not. After a brief interruption the vote counting continued.

The vote counting in Pristina Municipal Counting Centre started with a three-hours delay because of technical problems, the portal added.

Vucevic: Every day of blockades, strikes carries high economic cost for Serbia (Tanjug)

Serbian caretaker Prime Minister Milos Vucevic said on Tuesday every day of blockades, strikes and traffic halts in Serbia carried a high economic cost for the country, and noted that this was not a good invitation to investors wishing to come to Serbia, Tanjug news agency reported.

"We had the worst January in I do not know how many years as far as economic results are concerned. When someone talks about a civil war starting in Serbia, when someone talks about carrying out a revolution in Serbia, when someone in Serbia says they will block roads, motorways, bridges, that is certainly not a good invitation to investors", Vucevic said after a session of the Social and Economic Council.

"All these things that are happening to us, every hour, every day of blockades and stopping life in Serbia carries an economic cost for us", Vucevic said. He noted this was not a matter of political parties or popularity, but a matter of life for all Serbians. We cannot have a better life with "blockades and by stopping life in Serbia", he added.

Vucic: Statehood Day rally will be held in Sremska Mitrovica (N1)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that the announced rally of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) on Serbia’s Statehood Day will be held in the city of Sremska Mitrovica, northern Serbia, N1 reported.

In a video message posted on his official Instagram account, Vucic said the rally is set for 4 pm Saturday, February 15. “Let’s commemorate it (Statehood Day) together and reaffirm that Serbia is an independent country”, Vucic said.

Serbian students begin march to Kragujevac for Statehood Day protest (N1)

On Tuesday morning, students from Belgrade and Nis embarked on a march to the central Serbian city of Kragujevac, where they plan to join their peers for a protest rally on February 15, Serbia’s Statehood Day. Students from the Faculty of Technical Sciences in the western Serbian city of Cacak are also joining their peers in Kragujevac, N1 reported.

Students from the University of Kragujevac have called for a large protest rally and a 15-hour blockade of the city’s main road, titled “Let’s Meet on Sretenje,” on Saturday, February 15, starting 9 am.

International Media

Kosovo’s leader faces hunt for coalition partners after election (Financial Times)

Allies have viewed nationalistic turn under PM Albin Kurti as a threat to western Balkans’ stability.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s party will be forced to hunt for coalition partners after it failed to win a majority of seats in parliamentary elections, as the small Balkans country strives to repair frayed ties with the west.

Kurti, a hardline leftwing nationalist who has ruffled feathers among rival politicians, Balkan leaders and Kosovo’s allies since coming to power in 2021, won just over 41 per cent of votes in Sunday’s poll. The three main opposition parties, which have a stronger pro-western stance than Kurti’s Self-Determination Movement, received a combined 47 per cent.