News

Kosovo PM party leads in local election 1st round, Reuters (2009)

Prime Minister Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) won 5 municipalities in the first round of the local elections that took place on November 15, and were the first elections after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia. 4 municipalities were won by former Prime Minister's Alliance for the Future of Kosovo and 3 by the Democratic League of Kosovo.

Kosovo elections praised by allies, slammed by Serbia; The Sofia Echo (2009)

While the United States, the UK as well as the EU congratulated Kosovo on conducting its first elections since declaring independence from Serbia in February 2008, Serbia rejected them as illegal.

Kosovo-Metohija 2009: The way towards recognition of independence (Emportal, 2010)

The European Commission noted in its annual report for the progress of the countries candidates and potential candidates for EU accession, that the main challenges ahead of Kosovo-Metohija remained the democracy and the rule of law, fight against corruption and organised crime, increasing of the administrative capacity, human rights and the protection of minorities, and the integration of the communities.

Serbian parties beef up campaigning in northern Kosovo (SETimes, 2010)

Political parties from Serbia reportedly have stepped up campaigning in northern Kosovo, ahead of the May 30th municipal elections.

Kosovo Serbs vote in unauthorised elections (SETimes, 2010)

Serbs in northern Kosovo headed to the polls Sunday (May 30th) in local elections organised by Serbia. Albanians in the southern part of Mitrovica vowed to protest voting in the northern half of their city and in Novo Brdo. Reportedly, Serbs displaced in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Kraljevo, Kragujevac and Nis are also eligible to vote.

Kosovo police use tear gas to disperse protesters in Mitrovica (Earth Times, 2010)

Kosovo police on Sunday used tear gas to separate groups of Albanians and Serbs during protests in the divided northern town of Mitrovica against Serb-sponsored municipal elections.

RADENKOVIC: COMPROMISE IN KOSOVO – THE ONLY SOLUTION (Radio Srbija, 2010)

Local authorities in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica and in the municipality of Novo Brdo in Kosovo should be formed no later than July 1 or 30 days after announcement of final results. The parties of the ruling coalition stated that they will have majority in both municipalities. Mirjana Nikolic talked about this, but also about the situation in the province with the Coordinator of the SPS Main Committee for Kosovo and Metohija and MP, Dejan Radenkovic.

Albin Kurti Is Getting Ready For Kosovo Elections (AllVoices, 2010)

The leader of radical Albanian Self-determination movement Albin Kurti believes the current system, based on Marrti Ahtisaari’s Plan for Kosovo, can be changed, and expects the changes to take place after the elections next year.

New Kosovo municipality holds elections (SETimes.com, 2010)

Voters in the newly created Serb-dominated municipality of Partesh/Partes went to the polls on Sunday (June 20th) to elect local leaders.

Kosovo president resigns after losing constitutional court case (Deutsche Welle, 2010)

Three days after a court ruled he had violated the constitution, Kosovan President Fatmir Sejdiu has resigned, leaving his country without a head of state in the run-up to critical negotiations with Serbia.

European Parliament: Sejdiu's decision shows respect for law (emg.rs, 2010)

Fatmir Sejdiu, president of the Democratic League of Kosovo and now former president of Kosovo, on Sept. 28 presided over a session of the party's presidency, the Democratic League of Kosovo confirmed.

OSCE Mission in Kosovo marks International Democracy Day (OSCE, 2010)

"I have the answer, I have the answer," shouts Gentiana Maxharaj (17), a high-school student from Klinë/Klina, a municipality in western Kosovo. She and 40 peers from six municipalities in the region gathered in Gjakovë/Ðakovica on 15 September 2010 to take part in a democracy quiz.

OSCE Mission concerned with legal representation in court cases in Kosovo (OSCE, 2010)

A roundtable discussion today with judges, prosecutors and defence counsels to discuss an OSCE Mission report on legal representation in Kosovo concluded that the defence should play a more active role in court proceedings in order to ensure that defendants' rights are respected.

'123-Year-Old Voter' Raises Kosovo Poll Concerns (Eurasia Review, 2010)

Balkan Insight has uncovered evidence that a 123-year-old woman and a 120-year-old man voted in both rounds of November’s local elections in Kosovo, raising concerns of possible electoral abuse in the country’s outdated electoral roll.

Kosovo's 1st ballot since break from Serbia, The Washington Times (2010)

This article reports on the preparations of the first national elections in Kosovo since the country declared its independence in 2008. After many controversial discussion, the center-right Democratic League of Kosovo left the coalition government. According to the constitution, elections must be held within 45 days if the ruling center-left Democratic Party of Kosovo is not able to form a caretaker government.

OSCE Mission in Kosovo informs communities about human rights protection mechanisms (OSCE, 2010)

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo published a handbook of mechanisms for human rights protection on the 27th October 2010.

Kosovo to hold snap elections on December 12 (The Sofia Echo, 2010)

Prime minister Hashim Thaçi’s minority government failed on no-confidence vote. Acting president Jakup Krasniqi has called for snap elections at the end of this year.

Vote of no confidence triggers snap elections in Kosovo (Deutsche Welle, 2010)

First no-confidence vote dismissed minority government of Kosovo. By-pass elections are set for the 12th December 2010.

Serbia calls for boycott of Kosovo elections, The Telegraph (2010)

This article reports on the appeal of the Serbian government to all Serbs living in Kosovo. The Serbian government called for a boycott of the December general elections and invited the 100,000 Serbs living in the country not to vote. The government in Kosovo called early elections last month.

EU Mission Unhappy That Alleged Suspects Running In Kosovo Elections (rferl, 2010)

A top official with the European Union's law-and-order mission in Kosovo (EULEX) says the mission is unhappy that Kosovar political parties are fielding candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections who are under investigation or on trial for crimes, RFE/RL's Balkan Service reports.

tudy predicts PDK victory in Kosovo's snap elections (SETimes, 2010)

The Ljubljana-based International Institute for Balkans Studies (IFIMES) has published a study predicting the outcome of the December 12th snap elections of Kosovo.

UN urges greater cooperation in Kosovo (Euronews, 2010)

Because ethnic relations in Kosovo appear to be deteriorating and could ignite wider violence.

Two missions will monitor Kosovo's snap elections (SETimes, 2010)

The December 12th snap elections will be monitored by two organisations -- one local and one European, according to the network of NGOs Democracy in Action.

Number of Kosovo Candidates Under Probes Causes Concern (Balkan Isnight, 2010)

Kosovo's Election Commission says candidates can only be disqualified from December's poll if they have been found guilty.

Kosovo Serbs Warn Of Provocations Ahead Of Parliamentary Elections (rferl, 2010)

The campaign for Kosovo's December 12 early elections has begun, but Serbian officials in northern Kosovo warn that setting up polling stations there would be a provocation that could lead to incidents, RFE/RL's Balkan Service reports.

Rivalry Heats Up as Kosovo Campaigning Kicks Off (ISA Intel, 2010)

Election campaigning in Kosovo began on December 1st, as the country prepares for its first general vote since unilaterally declaring independence from Serbia in 2008. This also will be the first polling organized by Kosovo itself without any international involvement.

Council of Europe calls for free, fair elections in Kosovo (SETimes, 2010)

Visit of the Union's rapporteur to Kosovo. CEC Kosovo approved voters' list.

Kosovo elections: what the parties have to say (SETimes, 2010)

With early elections around the corner, Kosovo officially kicked off a ten-day period of campaigning Wednesday (December 1st). The election commission has certified 29 political parties and groups and a total of 1,265 candidates seeking seats in parliament.

Pristina vows official murder will not affect vote (AFP, 2010)

A poll official of Bosnian Muslim origin was shot dead Wednesday in Kosovo's ethnically tense north ahead of weekend elections, the first since independence, but the government vowed the ballot would go through.

SNV calls on Kosovo Serbs to boycott Sunday elections (EMG, 2010)

Representatives of the Serb National Council (SNV) called on Kosovo Serbs on Wednesday to boycott the elections which Pristina interim institutions scheduled for December 12.

Close race expected in Kosovo poll (European Vocie, 2010)

Voters in Kosovo take to the polls on Sunday. The run off is expected to be very close.

EU observers call on Kosovo citizens to vote on December 12 (EMG, 2010)

Members of the EU parliamentary mission for monitoring the Kosovo elections invited all the citizens in the province to vote in the December 12 polls, and noted that they expect difficulties in northern Kosovo due to boycott of elections.

Many Serbs expected to participate in Kosovo elections (SETimes, 2010)

Eight of the 29 tickets in Sunday's elections in Kosovo will represent the Serb community.

EP urges Kosovo not to repeat Albania's election mistakes (SETimes, 2010)

EP urges Kosovo not to repeat Albania's election mistakes

Central Election Commission member killed in northern Kosovo (SETimes, 2010)

Local CEC member killed in northern Kosovo.

Kosovo elections to get heavy monitoring (SETimes, 2010)

More than 5000 observers will monitor election day in Kosovo.

U.S. 'Concerned' About Serb Threats Ahead Of Kosovo Elections (rferl, 2010)

Should Kosovars be frightened by threats in northern Kosovo?

EU's Fuele says free elections will boost Kosovo's credibility (SETimes, 2010)

Free elections will boost Kosovo's credibility.

CEC ready for elections, election silence as of midnight (EMG, 2010)

In the first parliamentary elections of Kosovo since the declaration of its independence, there are 1260 candidates running for 120 seats in the parliament.

Kosovo starts voting, some Serbs boycott election (Reuters, 2010)

Kosovars began voting in their first parliamentary elections as citizens of an independent country on Sunday eager to see the new leaders pull them out of poverty.

Kosovo goes to the polls (The Financial Times, 2010)

Kosovo elects on the 12th December - a report on the election day about the background and the figures.

Two Serbs arrested in N. Kosovo (B92, 2010)

Minor protests in Northern Kosovo during election day

In pictures: Kosovo election

Kosovo's election day in pictures

Kosovo awaits first election results since independence as tensions rise (The Guardian, 2010)

The results of the election may rise concern over the future of a fragile democracy.

Kosovo Prime Minister Thaci Retains Power, Exit Poll Shows (Bloomberg, 2010)

Exit polls show that possibly former prime minister Tachi gains again power.

Kosovo Reruns Vote Under Heavy Scrutiny, rferl (2011)

Rerun elections in Kosovo

PDK celebrates after revote in Kosovo, SETimes (2011)

More than 52% of the voters in five municipalities in Kosovo cast their votes Sunday (January 9th), repeating the December 12th general elections due to irregularities.

Serbia's Djelic urges compromise solution over Kosovo, SETimes (2011)

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said on Friday (January 7th) that the upcoming dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina could be an opportunity for an historic compromise between Serbs and Kosovo Albanians.

Elections to be repeated in Kosovska Mitrovica on January 23, emg.rs (2011)

Central Election Commission of Kosovo-Metohija (CIK) released on Monday that parliamentary elections will be repeated at all voting stations in Kosovska Mitrovica, northern Kosovo, on January 23.

PM’s party wins Kosovo re-election, The Voice of Russia (2011)

Prime Minister Hashim Thaci’s Democratic Party of Kosovo has won the Sunday re-elections to the parliament of the unrecognized republic.

CEC announces preliminary results of general elections in Kosovo, SETimes (2011)

The Central Elections Commission announced preliminary results of the parliamentary elections in Kosovo after recounting 40 percent of ballots.

Lunacek: Kosovo elections were manipulated, SETimes (2011)

European Parliament (EP) Rapporteur for Kosovo has stated that the parliamentary elections in Kosovo, held on December 12 and January 9, were manipulated.

ENEMO says Kosovo's elections issues undermine public trust, SETimes (2011)

Irregularities reported during last month's snap parliamentary elections have significantly affected public trust in the democratic process in Kosovo, according to the European Network of Election Monitoring Organisations (ENEMO)

Lunacek: Election irregularities in Kosovo affect visa liberalisation, SETimes (2011)

Irregularities during the December snap elections in Kosovo can also affect the country's EU visa liberalisation process.

Revote In Mitrovica, Also For Serbs, New Kosova Report (2011)

The Central Election Commission of Kosovo aims to organize the revote for the parliamentary elections in Mitrovica's Northern part as well.

PM's Party Victorious in Kosovo Elections, Novinite (2011)

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci's party has conclusively won the country's first general elections since it declared independence in 2008, the election authorities have informed.

Low turnout in Mitrovica revote, SETimes (2011)

Low turnout was reported in Mitrovica on Sunday (January 23rd), where a re-vote of the December 12th snap elections was held.

Results from the 2011 Post-Election Survey in Kosovo, IFES (2011)

IFES’ third post-election survey in the country since 2008, is now available.

Kosovo Serbs Defy Belgrade on Referendum, Balkan Insight (2012)

Serbian people in four mainly Serbian municipalities in Kosovo are in favor of referendum on February 15 on the question whether accept the institutions of so-called Republic of Kosovo.

Kosovo Seeks Full Independence in 2012, Balkan Insight (2012)

Four years passed after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia. Kosovo’s parliament has adopted a resolution calling for independence at the end of 2012. 83 MPs voted for and 13 against a resolution.

Kosovo Serbs hold referendum on Pristina government, reuters (2012)

Serbs in Northern Kosovo vote in referendum on the question whether to recognize the government of Kosovo. The result of referendum will have little practical impact but will further continue ethnic tension among Serbs and Kosovo Albanians.

Resounding ‘No’ delivered in Kosovo referendum [ANALYSIS], neurope (2012)

Serbs living in four municipalities of northern Kosovo vote in referendum on the question whether to accept the institutions of the so-called Republic of Kosovo? Preliminary results show that 99.74% of ballots are with circling ‘No’.

North Kosovo Referendum: Not Binding, No Surprise But It Changes Everything – Analysis, eurasiareview (2012)

99.74% of people said “no” to the question whether accept living under Pristina authority In referendum held in Northern Kosovo. Although the referendum has no legal character and calls for no actions, it is important politically.

OSCE Mission in Kosovo reports orderly completion of voting, OSCE (2012)

All OSCE-run polling stations in Kosovo closed today after the orderly completion of voting, according to the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Werner Almhofer. The reported provisional turnout was 32.17 per cent.

OSCE Secretary General welcomes peaceful conduct of ballot facilitation in Kosovo, OSCE (2012)

The OSCE Secretary General, Lamberto Zannier, today welcomed the peaceful conclusion of the OSCE-run ballot facilitation that allowed eligible voters in Kosovo to cast ballots in the 6 May Serbian parliamentary and presidential elections.

Despite Time Crunch, OSCE Kosovo Supervises Smooth Election Process, RFERL (2012)

OSCE supervised Serbian presidential election in Kosovo and managed to secure the protection of human right and ensure fair elections conducted with due process.