Kosovan parliamentary election, 2010
Encyclopedia
The Kosovan parliamentary election was held in Kosovo
on 12 December 2010 following a vote of no confidence in the government that brought forward the election.
Incumbent Hashim Thaçi
's DPK
party won a plurality amidst controversies and a partial re-poll, while he was still in the process of trying to form a government. The election was seriously hampered by a number of irregularities and election fraud, having repeated on 9 January 2011 in 21 voting stations in 5 municipalities. The new vote was still positive for Thaçi on 4 out of 5 municipalities.
The election was marred with the reports of drugs, weapons, and human organs trafficking by an organisation linked to Thaçi, which lead to the re-opening of a formal investigation by the EULEX mission.
Fatmir Sejdiu
resigned in September 2010 over accusations of breaching the constitution by continuing to hold his party leadership while president. However, the next day the Democratic League of Kosovo
announced it would leave the ruling coalition on 18 October 2010, which would require early elections to be held within 45 days of that date. After the government failed a vote of no confidence on 2 November 2010, the election was set for 12 December 2010. The vote was a result of Hashim Thaçi's governing party supporting a no-confidence vote to trigger a snap election.
This was to be the first election since Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence
, and the International Court of Justice
's advisory opinion on the legality
of the declaration.
Koha Ditore
said: "Nowhere in the world has a government overthrown itself asking for it to be changed. It could only happen in Kosovo." Express Daily also added that the election was a result of "the way Hashim Thaçi wanted it. The prime minister himself insisted on voting to overthrow the government." Other analysts also warned of ominous outcomes: Nexhmedin Spahiu said "Kosovo will pay the biggest price for it in the eyes of the international community. This will affect international recognitions because the crisis weakens the position of Kosovo." A journalist, Halil Matoshi, concurred with the reaction and added that "the quick and dizzying fall of all the pillars of the system [proved] the political establishment is unable to ensure stability. It sends a very bad message for Kosovo as a new democracy at the time when the country is facing the Atlantic integrations and implementation of European standards to achieve NATO and EU membership
.
(LDK) split before the election. In late October 2010, former Health Minister Bujar Bukoshi
and Ukë Rugova (the son of the late president Ibrahim Rugova
) announced they would be filing a citizens' list called LDK – Ibrahim Rugova to run in the election. The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo
of Ramush Haradinaj
also signed an agreement with the LDK – Ibrahim Rugova faction list on 10 November 2010.
At a party congress on 7 November, Pristina
mayor Isa Mustafa
was elected as the new leader of LDK, beating incumbent Fatmir Sejdiu
with 235 to 125 votes.
AKR-PD-PSD-PPI-PPK-PNDSH-PGJK-New Kosovo Alliance
of Behgjet Pacolli
signed pre-election agreements with the Justice Party
and the Social Democratic Party of Kosovo
in early November. The coalition nominated Mimoza Kusari-Lila as its prime ministerial candidate
PDAK 23 registered with the CEC in the last day and yet early polling puts them as one of the main parties. It is believed that this is mainly due to its charismatic leader.
The following parties were registered for the parliamentary elections:
called on "all political parties to run their campaigns in accordance with the law." He said that "For a moment the whole world will look at us, to see our democratic culture and political maturity and the seriousness of a declared state that has so far been recognised by 72 countries." Incumbent Thaçi was expected to benefit from an election where his viable contenders were in disarrray.
Though the election passed off largely without incident, a Bosniak candidate who worked with the authorities in Pristina was shot dead in the northern city of Leposavić
.
, led by incumbent Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi
, was expected to narrowly win the election, though it would face difficulty in forming a stable government as its potential coalition partners, the Democratic League of Kosovo
and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo
, ruled out working with his party. The nationalist Vetëvendosje movement and the Liberal Democratic Fryma a Re (FER) were also expected to enter parliament for the first time after crossing the minimum 5% threshold.
Following a 21 November municipal election that was found to have had mistakes, the CEC,and the largest monitoring mission, Democracy in Action, admitted having made the mistakes in vote counting in Orahovac
with second place being given to the wrong party. This raised concerns for the parliamentary election.
Though Serbia told Kosovan Serbs conditions were not right for the election, turnout was expected to be high in the Serb enclaves of Gračanica and Štrpce
. Vuk Drašković
, a former foreign minister in Serbia and leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement
, urged Kosovan Serbs to vote. The US ambassador also called on the Kosovan Serbs to vote, as well as the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
in Serbia who said voting in the polls would not deny them social welfare from Serbia. Several Serb organisation in both Serbia and Kosovo's Serbian areas said that continuing a boycott of elections was a denial of the ground reality. However, some Kosovan Serb officials warned that mobile polling stations would be provocative and could lead to untoward incidents. The head of the Zvečan
municipality near Kosovska Mitrovica, Dragiša Milović, said polling booths in Serb areas, including the police station were "unacceptable."
Voting in the north would occur in temporary polling stations; while turnout was predicted to be low, Serbs in other areas of Kosovo were expected to have a big turnout.
as a preliminary loan to 300 million euros more from the European Union and the World Bank over three years. Thaçi dismissed the criticism as saying Kosovo was a "sovereign country [that] sets its own economic policy" and that he would continue with his pledges.
The two leading parties, DPK
and LDK, were in the previous governing coalition. According to preliminary results issued by the Central Election Commission, the breakdown of votes is:
The Election Complaint and Appeals Panel received 171 complaints from political entities over various violations, such as stuffing ballot boxes, multiple voting and defective verification ultraviolet lamps.
Chief State Prosecutor Ismet Kabashi called upon prosecutors from seven municipalities to collect evidence of fraud. Municipal officials were after a trial sentenced to 6 months of prison.
Within days of the election, the Council of Europe
released a report accusing Thaci of leading a "mafia like" crime ring that smuggled weapons, drugs and human organs. It said Serbians and some Albanian Kosovars civilians detained by the Kosovo Liberation Army
were shot in northern Albania and their kidneys were sold on the black market. The report said that after the Kosovo war
and before international forces could establish law and order
"organs were removed from some prisoners at a clinic in Albanian territory, near Fushe-Kruje..." In response, the Kosovo government denounced the report.
Organ theft allegations
On the 12 December 2010, a draft report from Dick Marty
to the Council of Europe
was pre-released, alleging that the Republic of Kosovo's prime minister, Hashim Thaçi
was the head of a "mafia-like" group responsible for smuggling weapons, drugs and human organs through eastern Europe. This article made waves across the world and led to a series of similar reports.
The report came on the day of the second vote, and was accepted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
, which requested re-opening of a criminal investigation.
, 2 in Dečani
and one each in Mališevo
and Lipljan. The re-run took place on 9 January, 2011.
had just two votes cast from a population of 60,000 by the time polls closed, one of which was in the Bosniak area. In Gračanica
, the municipal election commission predicted a 40 turnout. Other election day controversies included a polling station in Banjska
being surrounded by more than 50 Serbs and a road to the village being blocked with 2 men arrested and the polling station later moved. A KFOR office in Zubin Potok
was also shot at in the morning. However, a high turnout was reported by Serbs in enclaves in central Kosovo, who make up about two-thirds of the 120,000 ethnic Serb population.
of the Social Democratic Party of Kosovo the next day. However, the New Kosovo Alliance then said there would be no place in government for people under criminal investigation, in reference to the organ theft report. The SLS said on 28 December that it would join a government led by the DPK. There were also rumours following the election that Hashim Thaçi
would become president, while Mimoza Kusari-Lila would become PM. Behgjet Pacolli
, leader of the New Kosovo Alliance stated, on 30 December, that he would either demand the office of president in return for entering a coalition with the PDK or the ministries of Finance and Health.
A deal between PDK and AKR was tentatively reached on 9 February, 2011. However, some PDK members were reportedly unhappy with Pacolli becoming president, but would rather see acting president Jakup Krasniqi
take over in a permanent capacity. On 11 February, this was confirmed and Pacolli was offered the office of Assembly Speaker and Deputy Prime Minister, as well as four ministries for his AKR party, but not the office of President. Reportedly, the coalition will include only PDK, AKR and minority parties, as well as Ukë Rugova's Ibrahim Rugova List, totaling 65 MPs, a majority. According to Koha Ditore
, the PDK accepted Pacolli's demands on 13 February.
The distribution of ministries reported in the media foresees three ministries for the AKR party, two or three ministries for the ethnic Serb parties and one ministry each for other minorities and Ukë Rugova, with the rest going to Thaçi's PDK. Hashim Thaçi would be nominated for PM, Jakup Krasniqi
as Assembly Speaker and Pacolli as president.
The coalition agreements, according to the foreign media, foresee that: The PDK will get a deputy prime minister and ten ministries, AKR would get a deputy prime minister and three ministries, the Serb minority party SLS would get the post of another deputy prime minister and three ministries, the Ibrahim Rugova List would get another deputy prime minister and a ministry and the other non-Serbian minorities (working together as the parliamentary group "6 plus") would also get a ministry.
The coalition agreement was finally signed on 20 February, 2011 and the distribution of ministries was:
The agreement with the Ibrahim Rugova List would be signed later.
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
on 12 December 2010 following a vote of no confidence in the government that brought forward the election.
Incumbent Hashim Thaçi
Hashim Thaci
Hashim Thaçi is the Prime Minister of Republic of Kosovo, the leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo , and former political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army .-Early life and education:...
's DPK
Democratic Party of Kosovo
The Democratic Party of Kosovo is the largest political party in Kosovo . It is a social democratic party and the main leftist party in Kosovo....
party won a plurality amidst controversies and a partial re-poll, while he was still in the process of trying to form a government. The election was seriously hampered by a number of irregularities and election fraud, having repeated on 9 January 2011 in 21 voting stations in 5 municipalities. The new vote was still positive for Thaçi on 4 out of 5 municipalities.
The election was marred with the reports of drugs, weapons, and human organs trafficking by an organisation linked to Thaçi, which lead to the re-opening of a formal investigation by the EULEX mission.
Background
The election was initially called on 15 October 2010, after PresidentPresident of Kosovo
The President of the Republic of Kosovo is Head of State of the disputed Republic of Kosovo. The President of Kosovo is elected by the Assembly of Kosovo. The first post-war president, who served until his death in January 2006, was Ibrahim Rugova. His successor was Fatmir Sejdiu. When Sejdiu...
Fatmir Sejdiu
Fatmir Sejdiu
Fatmir Sejdiu is a politician from Kosovo. He was the leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo and was the first President of the Republic of Kosovo.-Early life and education:...
resigned in September 2010 over accusations of breaching the constitution by continuing to hold his party leadership while president. However, the next day the Democratic League of Kosovo
Democratic League of Kosovo
The Democratic League of Kosovo is the second largest political party in Kosovo. It is a conservative and liberal conservative party; the main right-wing party in Kosovo....
announced it would leave the ruling coalition on 18 October 2010, which would require early elections to be held within 45 days of that date. After the government failed a vote of no confidence on 2 November 2010, the election was set for 12 December 2010. The vote was a result of Hashim Thaçi's governing party supporting a no-confidence vote to trigger a snap election.
This was to be the first election since Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence
2008 Kosovo declaration of independence
The 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence was adopted on 17 February 2008 by individual members of the Assembly of Kosovo acting in personal capacity and not binding to the Assembly itself...
, and the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
's advisory opinion on the legality
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
of the declaration.
Reaction to election call
The call for a new election was condemned both within and without Kosovo because the incumbent government "orchestrat[ed] its own downfall," while election observers "warned the snap polls it triggered could damage Pristina at the international level."Koha Ditore
Koha Ditore
Koha Ditore is the leading daily newspaper from Kosovo. It is published by Koha Group and was founded and owned by politician Veton Surroi. His sister Flaka Surroi is now the publisher, following Veton Surroi's launch of his political career within the ORA reformist party...
said: "Nowhere in the world has a government overthrown itself asking for it to be changed. It could only happen in Kosovo." Express Daily also added that the election was a result of "the way Hashim Thaçi wanted it. The prime minister himself insisted on voting to overthrow the government." Other analysts also warned of ominous outcomes: Nexhmedin Spahiu said "Kosovo will pay the biggest price for it in the eyes of the international community. This will affect international recognitions because the crisis weakens the position of Kosovo." A journalist, Halil Matoshi, concurred with the reaction and added that "the quick and dizzying fall of all the pillars of the system [proved] the political establishment is unable to ensure stability. It sends a very bad message for Kosovo as a new democracy at the time when the country is facing the Atlantic integrations and implementation of European standards to achieve NATO and EU membership
Stabilisation Tracking Mechanism
Stabilisation Tracking Mechanism is the mirror instrument of the Stabilisation and Association Process for Kosovo. Kosovo, a disputed province of Serbia under international administration that has recently unilaterally declared independence and received partial recognition, still not having a...
.
Parties
The Democratic League of KosovoDemocratic League of Kosovo
The Democratic League of Kosovo is the second largest political party in Kosovo. It is a conservative and liberal conservative party; the main right-wing party in Kosovo....
(LDK) split before the election. In late October 2010, former Health Minister Bujar Bukoshi
Bujar Bukoshi
Bujar Bukoshi was the Minister of Healthcare in Kosovo in the first government of Hashim Thaci. Previously, he served as Prime Minister of Kosovo within the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosova from 1991 to 2000. He graduated from the University of Belgrade's Medical School.-Notes:...
and Ukë Rugova (the son of the late president Ibrahim Rugova
Ibrahim Rugova
Ibrahim Rugova was an Albanian politician who was the first President of Kosovo and of its leading political party, the Democratic League of Kosovo ....
) announced they would be filing a citizens' list called LDK – Ibrahim Rugova to run in the election. The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo
The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo is a political party in Kosovo. It was formed on 29 April 2001.- Leadership :The current president of the party is Ramush Haradinaj. In December 2004 the parliament elected him as Prime Minister of Kosovo and he formed a coalition government with the largest...
of Ramush Haradinaj
Ramush Haradinaj
Ramush Haradinaj is a former leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army and former prime minister of Kosovo. He leads the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo and is among former KLA officers charged of war crimes during the 1999 Kosovo War by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia...
also signed an agreement with the LDK – Ibrahim Rugova faction list on 10 November 2010.
At a party congress on 7 November, Pristina
Pristina
Pristina, also spelled Prishtina and Priština is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous municipality and district....
mayor Isa Mustafa
Isa Mustafa
Isa Mustafa is an Albanian politician from Kosovo, the Mayor of Pristina and the leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo .-Early life:...
was elected as the new leader of LDK, beating incumbent Fatmir Sejdiu
Fatmir Sejdiu
Fatmir Sejdiu is a politician from Kosovo. He was the leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo and was the first President of the Republic of Kosovo.-Early life and education:...
with 235 to 125 votes.
AKR-PD-PSD-PPI-PPK-PNDSH-PGJK-New Kosovo Alliance
New Kosovo Alliance
New Kosovo Alliance is a political party in Kosovo which is in the current coalition government made up by the PDK and AKR. The party was founded on 3 May 2006, by Behgjet Pacolli the founding owner of Mabetex,the Swiss based project engineering firm responsible for some of the most significant...
of Behgjet Pacolli
Behgjet Pacolli
Behgjet Isa Pacolli is a former President of the Republic of Kosovo, and is now First Deputy Prime Minister serving in the cabinet of Hashim Thaçi...
signed pre-election agreements with the Justice Party
Justice Party (Kosovo)
The Justice Party is a political party in the self declared, semi-recognised, defacto independent, Republic of Kosovo.At the last legislative elections, 24 October 2004, the party won 1.0% of the popular vote and 1 out of 120 seats...
and the Social Democratic Party of Kosovo
Social Democratic Party of Kosovo
The Social Democratic Party of Kosovo is a political party in the Republic of Kosovo. It was established on the 10th February 1990 and was second political party to be established in the newly pluralist Kosovo.- Leadership :...
in early November. The coalition nominated Mimoza Kusari-Lila as its prime ministerial candidate
PDAK 23 registered with the CEC in the last day and yet early polling puts them as one of the main parties. It is believed that this is mainly due to its charismatic leader.
The following parties were registered for the parliamentary elections:
| Acronym | Name |
|---|---|
| LDK | Democratic League of Kosovo Democratic League of Kosovo The Democratic League of Kosovo is the second largest political party in Kosovo. It is a conservative and liberal conservative party; the main right-wing party in Kosovo.... |
| FER | New Spirit Party New Spirit Party Partia Fryma e Re , abbreviated FER, was a political party in Kosovo. It was founded and registered with CEC in October 2010 by Harvard graduate Shpend Ahmeti, Ilir Deda, Director of the Kosovo Institute for Policy Research and Development and others, and supports Kosovo in becoming a new... |
| KTB | Turkish Union of Kosovo |
| PREBK | United Party of Kosovo Roma |
| PDAK | Democratic Party of Kosovo Ashkanlive |
| PDAK 23 | Democratic Party of Kosovo Ashkanlive (Faction) |
| LEK | League of Kosovo Egyptians |
| SDSG | Social Democratic Party of Gora |
| IRDK | New Democratic Initiative of Kosova |
| PAI | Ashkali Party For Integration |
| PDK | Democratic Party of Kosovo Democratic Party of Kosovo The Democratic Party of Kosovo is the largest political party in Kosovo . It is a social democratic party and the main leftist party in Kosovo.... |
| AKR-PD-PSD-PPI-PPK-PNDSH-PGJK | Coalition |
| LDD | Democratic League of Dardania Democratic League of Dardania The Democratic League of Dardania is a newly founded political party in Kosovo. The Democratic League of Dardania was established in January 2007 by the former Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo Nexhat Daci following his unsuccessful bid to become leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo... |
| KDTP | Democratic Turk Party of Kosovo |
| VAKAT | Coalition Vakat Coalition Vakat The Coalition Vakat is a Bosniak political party in Kosovo.At the legislative elections held on 24 October 2004, the party won 0.7 % of the popular vote and 3 out of 120 seats.-External links:*... |
| GIG | Citizen's Initiative of Gora |
| SNSD | Association of Independent Social Democrats |
| SKMS | Serbian Kosovo Metohia Party |
| SSDS | Serbian Social Democratic Party |
| SNS | Serbian National Party |
| GIKN | National Initiative Civil Wing |
| JSL | United Serbian List |
| AAK | Alliance for the Future of Kosovo Alliance for the Future of Kosovo The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo is a political party in Kosovo. It was formed on 29 April 2001.- Leadership :The current president of the party is Ramush Haradinaj. In December 2004 the parliament elected him as Prime Minister of Kosovo and he formed a coalition government with the largest... |
| BSDAK | Bosniak Party of Democratic Action of Kosovo |
| VV | Lëvizja Vetëvendosje! VETËVENDOSJE! Vetëvendosje is a radical nationalistic political movement in Kosovo which opposes foreign involvement in internal affairs in the country and campaigns for the sovereignty exercised by the people and government of the Republic of Kosovo instead, as part of the right of self-determination.The... |
| SLS | Independent Liberal Party Independent Liberal Party (Kosovo) The Independent Liberal Party is a Serbian political party in Kosovo. Chairman of the party is Slobodan Petrović.... |
| NDS | New Democratic Party, Kosovo |
| SDSKIM | Serbian Democratic Party of Kosovo and Metohia |
| SDA | Party of Democratic Action Party of Democratic Action The Party of Democratic Action is a Bosniak national political party in Bosnia and Herzegovina.-History:The Party of Democratic Action was founded in May 1990 by Alija Izetbegović, representing the Bosnian Muslim population... |
| CDS | Montenegro's Democratic Party |
Campaign
As campaigning began President Jakup KrasniqiJakup Krasniqi
Jakup Krasniqi is an Albanian politician and former acting President of Kosovo. He is the Chairman of the Assembly of Kosovo.-Early life:...
called on "all political parties to run their campaigns in accordance with the law." He said that "For a moment the whole world will look at us, to see our democratic culture and political maturity and the seriousness of a declared state that has so far been recognised by 72 countries." Incumbent Thaçi was expected to benefit from an election where his viable contenders were in disarrray.
Though the election passed off largely without incident, a Bosniak candidate who worked with the authorities in Pristina was shot dead in the northern city of Leposavić
Leposavic
Leposavić is a town and [Municipalities of Kosovo|municipality]] in the district of Kosovska Mitrovica of northern Kosovo. It is a part of North Kosovo, a region with at least 98%ethnic Serb majority that functions largely autonomously from the remainder of the ethnic-Albanian-majority Kosovo...
.
Polls
The DPKDemocratic Party of Kosovo
The Democratic Party of Kosovo is the largest political party in Kosovo . It is a social democratic party and the main leftist party in Kosovo....
, led by incumbent Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi
Hashim Thaci
Hashim Thaçi is the Prime Minister of Republic of Kosovo, the leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo , and former political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army .-Early life and education:...
, was expected to narrowly win the election, though it would face difficulty in forming a stable government as its potential coalition partners, the Democratic League of Kosovo
Democratic League of Kosovo
The Democratic League of Kosovo is the second largest political party in Kosovo. It is a conservative and liberal conservative party; the main right-wing party in Kosovo....
and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo
The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo is a political party in Kosovo. It was formed on 29 April 2001.- Leadership :The current president of the party is Ramush Haradinaj. In December 2004 the parliament elected him as Prime Minister of Kosovo and he formed a coalition government with the largest...
, ruled out working with his party. The nationalist Vetëvendosje movement and the Liberal Democratic Fryma a Re (FER) were also expected to enter parliament for the first time after crossing the minimum 5% threshold.
Voting issues
The Central Electoral Commission came under pressure to work quickly for the snap polls with a "short windor for preparations." Amid concerns of removing ineligible voters in such a short time, about 6,000 people were taken off the voting lists. The head of the commission Valdete Daka said on this would be Kosovo's most strictly watched elections with thousands of local and international observers in attendance. 1.6 million people were eligible to vote. About 5,000 civil society representatives and international missions were scheduled to monitor the election.Following a 21 November municipal election that was found to have had mistakes, the CEC,and the largest monitoring mission, Democracy in Action, admitted having made the mistakes in vote counting in Orahovac
Orahovac
Orahovac is a town and municipality in western Kosovo, in the District of Đakovica.-Name:Its Serbian name stems from the Serbian word orah , meaning "walnut"....
with second place being given to the wrong party. This raised concerns for the parliamentary election.
Though Serbia told Kosovan Serbs conditions were not right for the election, turnout was expected to be high in the Serb enclaves of Gračanica and Štrpce
Štrpce
Štrpce is a town and municipality in the District of Uroševac, Kosovo and Metohija.According to the 1991 census, the municipality of Štrpce had a population of around 12,800 people...
. Vuk Drašković
Vuk Draškovic
Vuk Drašković , leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement, is a Serbian politician who served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Yugoslavia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of State Union of Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia.He graduated from the University of Belgrade's Law School in 1968...
, a former foreign minister in Serbia and leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement
Serbian Renewal Movement
The Serbian Renewal Movement is a political party in Serbia.It was founded in 1990.In 1997 a dissident group abandoned the party and formed New Serbia....
, urged Kosovan Serbs to vote. The US ambassador also called on the Kosovan Serbs to vote, as well as the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
The Helsinki Committees for Human Rights exist in many European countries as volunteer, non-profit organizations devoted to human rights and presumably named after the Helsinki Accords...
in Serbia who said voting in the polls would not deny them social welfare from Serbia. Several Serb organisation in both Serbia and Kosovo's Serbian areas said that continuing a boycott of elections was a denial of the ground reality. However, some Kosovan Serb officials warned that mobile polling stations would be provocative and could lead to untoward incidents. The head of the Zvečan
Zvecan
Zvečan is a town and municipality in the Kosovska Mitrovica district of Kosovo. It is a part of North Kosovo, a region with an ethnic Serb majority that functions largely autonomously from the remainder of the ethnic-Albanian-majority Kosovo and Metohija. The municipality covers an area of , and...
municipality near Kosovska Mitrovica, Dragiša Milović, said polling booths in Serb areas, including the police station were "unacceptable."
Voting in the north would occur in temporary polling stations; while turnout was predicted to be low, Serbs in other areas of Kosovo were expected to have a big turnout.
Campaign issues
Thaçi announced a pay increase of 30 percent for 70,000 civil servants as well as a doubling of teachers' salaries during the electoral campaign. Jose Sulemane, the head of the IMF in Kosovo, said such a pay increase would not viable without breaking the terms of a deal Thaçi signed that would limit pay increases to a maximum rise of public sector pay to 8 percent. The agreement offered Kosovo a 110 million euro soft loanSoft loan
A soft loan is a loan with a below-market rate of interest. This is also known as soft financing. Sometimes soft loans provide other concessions to borrowers, such as long repayment periods or interest holidays. Soft loans are usually provided by governments to projects they think are worthwhile...
as a preliminary loan to 300 million euros more from the European Union and the World Bank over three years. Thaçi dismissed the criticism as saying Kosovo was a "sovereign country [that] sets its own economic policy" and that he would continue with his pledges.
Result
Incumbent PM Hashim Thaçi claimed victory in the election before the result was certified by the CEC with exit polls showing the Democratic Party of Kosovo won 31 percent and the Democratic League of Kosovo followed with 25 percent, though this was not yet certified by the CEC. Exit polls also indicated a 47% turnout.The two leading parties, DPK
Democratic Party of Kosovo
The Democratic Party of Kosovo is the largest political party in Kosovo . It is a social democratic party and the main leftist party in Kosovo....
and LDK, were in the previous governing coalition. According to preliminary results issued by the Central Election Commission, the breakdown of votes is:
Fraud allegations and corruption
Although the first reports of the numerous observers of the election were positive, allegations of fraud later arose as an unusually large voter turnout was reported by LDK in some strongholds of the rival PDK. LDK spokesman said that the voting had been compromised in two PDK strongholds where turnout was "statistically impossible, logically unreasonable, politically unacceptable and legally contestable in Kosovo's reality" with 94 percent compared to the national average of 48%. He further stated that LDK will use all legal means to bring legitimacy to the election. In some voting stations the turnout was beyond 100%.The Election Complaint and Appeals Panel received 171 complaints from political entities over various violations, such as stuffing ballot boxes, multiple voting and defective verification ultraviolet lamps.
Chief State Prosecutor Ismet Kabashi called upon prosecutors from seven municipalities to collect evidence of fraud. Municipal officials were after a trial sentenced to 6 months of prison.
Within days of the election, the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
released a report accusing Thaci of leading a "mafia like" crime ring that smuggled weapons, drugs and human organs. It said Serbians and some Albanian Kosovars civilians detained by the Kosovo Liberation Army
Kosovo Liberation Army
The Kosovo Liberation Army or KLA was a Kosovar Albanian paramilitary organization which sought the separation of Kosovo from Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the 1990s....
were shot in northern Albania and their kidneys were sold on the black market. The report said that after the Kosovo war
Kosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
and before international forces could establish law and order
Law and order (politics)
In politics, law and order refers to demands for a strict criminal justice system, especially in relation to violent and property crime, through harsher criminal penalties...
"organs were removed from some prisoners at a clinic in Albanian territory, near Fushe-Kruje..." In response, the Kosovo government denounced the report.
Organ theft allegations
On the 12 December 2010, a draft report from Dick Marty
Dick Marty
Dick Marty is a Swiss politician and former state prosecutor of the canton of Ticino. He is a member of the Swiss Council of States , and a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.-Education:Marty holds a doctorate in law from the University of Neuchâtel with the thesis:...
to the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
was pre-released, alleging that the Republic of Kosovo's prime minister, Hashim Thaçi
Hashim Thaci
Hashim Thaçi is the Prime Minister of Republic of Kosovo, the leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo , and former political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army .-Early life and education:...
was the head of a "mafia-like" group responsible for smuggling weapons, drugs and human organs through eastern Europe. This article made waves across the world and led to a series of similar reports.
The report came on the day of the second vote, and was accepted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe , which held its first session in Strasbourg on 10 August 1949, can be considered the oldest international parliamentary assembly with a pluralistic composition of democratically elected members of parliament established on the basis of an...
, which requested re-opening of a criminal investigation.
Repeated vote
After reviewing the complaints, the Central Election Commission decided to have re-polling in 21 polling stations: 12 in Srbica, 5 in GlogovacGlogovac
Glogovac is a town and municipality in the Pristina district of central Kosovo.-History:Before the Kosovo War of 1999, the Kosovo Liberation Army had a strong level of influence and controlled large areas of the municipality.-More about Glogovac:...
, 2 in Dečani
Decani
Decani is the side of a church choir occupied by the Dean. In English churches this is typically the choir stalls on the south side of the chancel, although there are some notable exceptions, such as Durham Cathedral and Southwell Minster...
and one each in Mališevo
Mališevo
Mališevo is a town and municipality in the Prizren District of central Kosovo...
and Lipljan. The re-run took place on 9 January, 2011.
Turnout of ethnic Serbs
Reports indicated that the Serb-majority area around Kosovska MitrovicaKosovska Mitrovica
Kosovska Mitrovica , is a city and municipality in northern Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous district....
had just two votes cast from a population of 60,000 by the time polls closed, one of which was in the Bosniak area. In Gračanica
Gracanica, Kosovo
Gračanica is a town and municipality in central Kosovo, and a Serb enclave centered around the Gračanica monastery, located ten kilometers away from Pristina...
, the municipal election commission predicted a 40 turnout. Other election day controversies included a polling station in Banjska
Banjska (village)
Banjska, is a village near Zvečan and Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo.-Demographics:In 2000 there were 30 Serb households. However in 2003 there were 20 Serb households.- Events:In 1999 a RTV transmitter was damaged....
being surrounded by more than 50 Serbs and a road to the village being blocked with 2 men arrested and the polling station later moved. A KFOR office in Zubin Potok
Zubin Potok
Zubin Potok is a town and municipality in the Kosovska Mitrovica district of northern Kosovo. It is a part of North Kosovo, a region with an ethnic Serb majority that functions largely autonomously from the remainder of the ethnic-Albanian-majority Kosovo...
was also shot at in the morning. However, a high turnout was reported by Serbs in enclaves in central Kosovo, who make up about two-thirds of the 120,000 ethnic Serb population.
Reactions
- EU representatives called for a speedy formation of a new government.
- The head of European Parliament's observer team, Doris Pack said: "Serious allegations of fraud in two municipalities have been brought to the attention of the delegation." The EP delegation also added that "a generally well organised Election Day with a good voter turnout is encouraging for the continuous democratic development of Kosovo." They regarded the increased participation by Kosovo Serbs as a sign of further engagement with Kosovan institutions, but also expressed disappointment with the low voter turnout in northern Kosovo.
- The European Network of Election Monitoring Organisations said that the elections were orderly but that there were "some cases of breaches of procedures and irregularities."
- European Parliament reporter had stated that the elections were an organized manipulation
- US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said: "The United States urges the Kosovo elections commission to address the few serious irregularities that did occur." Ambassador Christopher DellChristopher DellChristopher William Dell is a career United States Foreign Service officer who currently serves as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Kosovo, after having been posted to Angola and Zimbabwe.-Education:...
said he had personally witnessed ballot stuffingBallot stuffingBallot stuffing is the illegal act of one person submitting multiple ballots during a vote in which only one ballot per person is permitted. The name originates from the earliest days of this practice in which people literally did stuff more than one ballot in a ballot box at the same time...
.- On 26. January 2011, after the election re-run in several districts, the US Ambassador to Kosovo Christopher Dell predicted that the new government will be formed before Kosovo Independence Day, February 17th, He also stated that "this is an important event for Kosovo. It is an important symbol to have a new, completely functional government on the third anniversary of the independence", adding that he'd like to see a government with a clear and coherent agenda.
- The Russian Foreign Ministry said the election was illegal.
Analysis
The Democratic Party of Kosovo needs at least two coalition partners. As it previous allies ruled out working with the party and the Vetëvendosje! movement considered too nationalistic to form a government, the New Kosovo Alliance and the minority parties Independent Liberal Party and the United Serbian List were seen the most likely coalition partners. The United Serbian List, however, rejected rumours about their participation in a DPK-led government on 16 December.Government formation
The Democratic Party of Kosovo and the New Kosovo Alliance agreed on a coalition on 19 December. However, this report was denied by Agim ÇekuAgim Çeku
Agim Çeku is the current Minister of Security Forces for the Republic of Kosovo. He is also the former Prime Minister of Kosovo and a chief of the Kosovo Liberation Army . He was born in the village of Ćuška near Peć, in the Yugoslav province of Kosovo .Çeku is an ethnic Albanian...
of the Social Democratic Party of Kosovo the next day. However, the New Kosovo Alliance then said there would be no place in government for people under criminal investigation, in reference to the organ theft report. The SLS said on 28 December that it would join a government led by the DPK. There were also rumours following the election that Hashim Thaçi
Hashim Thaci
Hashim Thaçi is the Prime Minister of Republic of Kosovo, the leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo , and former political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army .-Early life and education:...
would become president, while Mimoza Kusari-Lila would become PM. Behgjet Pacolli
Behgjet Pacolli
Behgjet Isa Pacolli is a former President of the Republic of Kosovo, and is now First Deputy Prime Minister serving in the cabinet of Hashim Thaçi...
, leader of the New Kosovo Alliance stated, on 30 December, that he would either demand the office of president in return for entering a coalition with the PDK or the ministries of Finance and Health.
A deal between PDK and AKR was tentatively reached on 9 February, 2011. However, some PDK members were reportedly unhappy with Pacolli becoming president, but would rather see acting president Jakup Krasniqi
Jakup Krasniqi
Jakup Krasniqi is an Albanian politician and former acting President of Kosovo. He is the Chairman of the Assembly of Kosovo.-Early life:...
take over in a permanent capacity. On 11 February, this was confirmed and Pacolli was offered the office of Assembly Speaker and Deputy Prime Minister, as well as four ministries for his AKR party, but not the office of President. Reportedly, the coalition will include only PDK, AKR and minority parties, as well as Ukë Rugova's Ibrahim Rugova List, totaling 65 MPs, a majority. According to Koha Ditore
Koha Ditore
Koha Ditore is the leading daily newspaper from Kosovo. It is published by Koha Group and was founded and owned by politician Veton Surroi. His sister Flaka Surroi is now the publisher, following Veton Surroi's launch of his political career within the ORA reformist party...
, the PDK accepted Pacolli's demands on 13 February.
The distribution of ministries reported in the media foresees three ministries for the AKR party, two or three ministries for the ethnic Serb parties and one ministry each for other minorities and Ukë Rugova, with the rest going to Thaçi's PDK. Hashim Thaçi would be nominated for PM, Jakup Krasniqi
Jakup Krasniqi
Jakup Krasniqi is an Albanian politician and former acting President of Kosovo. He is the Chairman of the Assembly of Kosovo.-Early life:...
as Assembly Speaker and Pacolli as president.
The coalition agreements, according to the foreign media, foresee that: The PDK will get a deputy prime minister and ten ministries, AKR would get a deputy prime minister and three ministries, the Serb minority party SLS would get the post of another deputy prime minister and three ministries, the Ibrahim Rugova List would get another deputy prime minister and a ministry and the other non-Serbian minorities (working together as the parliamentary group "6 plus") would also get a ministry.
The coalition agreement was finally signed on 20 February, 2011 and the distribution of ministries was:
- The AKR will have Muhamet Mustafa as deputy prime minister. Agim ÇekuAgim ÇekuAgim Çeku is the current Minister of Security Forces for the Republic of Kosovo. He is also the former Prime Minister of Kosovo and a chief of the Kosovo Liberation Army . He was born in the village of Ćuška near Peć, in the Yugoslav province of Kosovo .Çeku is an ethnic Albanian...
in the Security Force Ministry, Ferid Agani in the Health Ministry and Mimoza Kusari-Lila in the Trade and Industry Ministry. - Independent Liberal PartyIndependent Liberal Party (Kosovo)The Independent Liberal Party is a Serbian political party in Kosovo. Chairman of the party is Slobodan Petrović....
(SLS) leader Slobodan PetrovićSlobodan PetrovićSlobodan Petrović is a Kosovar politician, who is one of five Deputy Prime Ministers of the Republic of Kosovo. He is also head of the Independent Liberal Party and a member of the Kosovo Assembly.-Career:...
will be deputy prime minister and the SLS will get the Local Self-Government Ministry, Communities and Return Ministry and Labor and Social Welfare Ministry. - The minorities' parties (Turks, Ashkalis and Egyptians) will get the Environment and Spatial Planning Ministry.
The agreement with the Ibrahim Rugova List would be signed later.
External links
- Crowdmap for tracking issues with the election
- Kosovo election 2010 - from Balkan InsightBalkan InsightBalkan Insight is a publication of the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network , that focusses on news, analysis, commentary and investigative reporting from southeast Europe...
.