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Kosovo election: Opposition parties claim win | Kosovo election: Opposition parties claim win |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Opposition parties have claimed the greatest number of votes in Kosovo's general election. | Opposition parties have claimed the greatest number of votes in Kosovo's general election. |
Centre-left Vetevendosje and centre-right Democratic League (LDK) are each expected to win about 25% of the vote. | Centre-left Vetevendosje and centre-right Democratic League (LDK) are each expected to win about 25% of the vote. |
The election was called in July when Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj resigned to face questioning by a war crimes court in The Hague. | The election was called in July when Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj resigned to face questioning by a war crimes court in The Hague. |
It is the fourth election since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. | It is the fourth election since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. |
Serbia does not recognise the country and with Russia has blocked it from becoming a member of the UN and other international bodies. | Serbia does not recognise the country and with Russia has blocked it from becoming a member of the UN and other international bodies. |
In talks before the vote, Vetevendosje and the LDK failed to agree on forming a coalition. | In talks before the vote, Vetevendosje and the LDK failed to agree on forming a coalition. |
Both parties promise to tackle unemployment and fight crime and corruption. | Both parties promise to tackle unemployment and fight crime and corruption. |
Vetevendosje's leader Albin Kurti said he would "knock on the LDK door" on Monday to start negotiations. | Vetevendosje's leader Albin Kurti said he would "knock on the LDK door" on Monday to start negotiations. |
Can the biggest parties work together? | Can the biggest parties work together? |
By Guy De Launey, Balkans Correspondent | By Guy De Launey, Balkans Correspondent |
The two parties celebrating the most are very different in character. | The two parties celebrating the most are very different in character. |
Vetevendosje is an anti-establishment Albanian nationalist movement. Its MPs are notorious for disrupting sessions of the National Assembly by lobbing tear gas. The LDK is Kosovo's oldest party - and hopes to install lawyer Vjosa Osmani as the first female prime minister. | Vetevendosje is an anti-establishment Albanian nationalist movement. Its MPs are notorious for disrupting sessions of the National Assembly by lobbing tear gas. The LDK is Kosovo's oldest party - and hopes to install lawyer Vjosa Osmani as the first female prime minister. |
The two parties failed to reach a coalition agreement before the election - and may take many weeks of negotiations to form a new government. | The two parties failed to reach a coalition agreement before the election - and may take many weeks of negotiations to form a new government. |
Meanwhile, the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army are licking their electoral wounds. Voters held their parties largely responsible for endemic corruption and a lack of development. | Meanwhile, the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army are licking their electoral wounds. Voters held their parties largely responsible for endemic corruption and a lack of development. |
Mr Haradinaj's party meanwhile is set to win only 10% of the vote. | Mr Haradinaj's party meanwhile is set to win only 10% of the vote. |
The 51-year-old served as a rebel commander in the 1998-1999 Kosovo conflict, which eventually led to Kosovo declaring independence. | The 51-year-old served as a rebel commander in the 1998-1999 Kosovo conflict, which eventually led to Kosovo declaring independence. |
Mr Haradinaj stepped down so that he could attend court as an ordinary citizen - but was free to stand for re-election because no indictments have yet been announced. | Mr Haradinaj stepped down so that he could attend court as an ordinary citizen - but was free to stand for re-election because no indictments have yet been announced. |
He denies war crimes and has been tried and acquitted twice before at the UN tribunal. | He denies war crimes and has been tried and acquitted twice before at the UN tribunal. |
Last November, he imposed a 100% tariff on imports from Serbia in retaliation for Belgrade blocking Kosovo's membership of international organisations. | |
He has ignored pleas from Brussels to revoke the tariffs. | He has ignored pleas from Brussels to revoke the tariffs. |
Mr Kurti has said his party will abolish the tariffs but will introduce other retaliatory measures against Serbia. | Mr Kurti has said his party will abolish the tariffs but will introduce other retaliatory measures against Serbia. |
Meanwhile Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic says Belgrade will hold talks with the Kosovan government once the tariffs have been removed. | Meanwhile Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic says Belgrade will hold talks with the Kosovan government once the tariffs have been removed. |
On Thursday US President Donald Trump appointed the US ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, as special envoy for peace negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia. | On Thursday US President Donald Trump appointed the US ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, as special envoy for peace negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia. |
Kosovo is recognised by most of the west but it needs Belgrade, Russia and China to accept its statehood to get a seat in the United Nations. | Kosovo is recognised by most of the west but it needs Belgrade, Russia and China to accept its statehood to get a seat in the United Nations. |
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