17 November 2009 / REUTERS, PRISTINA
Prime Minister Hashim Thaci’s Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) claimed on Monday to have won more votes than any other party in Kosovo’s first local elections since it declared independence from Serbia last year.
Sunday’s vote was a test for Kosovo, which wants to establish itself as a fully functioning democracy and gain acceptance from more countries than the 63 that have so far recognized it as an independent state. But analysts said low turnout of 45 percent reflected the disappointment many Kosovars feel in their leaders for failing to fix the 40 percent unemployment rate and dismal economic prospects of one of Europe’s poorest countries.As expected given the more than 70 political parties in the running, most municipalities were likely to have to go to a run-off in one month’s time between the top two candidates. About 1.5 million people were eligible to elect mayors and local councils in 36 municipalities. “Based on the results that we have until now, the majority of the municipalities need a second round to have a winner,” said Valmir Ismaili from Democracy in Action, a coalition of non-governmental organizations monitoring the elections. A candidate needed 50 percent plus one vote to be successful in the first round. Kosovo’s election commission said it would give initial results later on Monday. Thaci put his party’s share of the national vote at “between 38 and 43 percent,” a reflection of his party’s efforts and promises to help local communities with roads, water, jobs and other issues.
