Eurasia Press & News
Stay tuned for all the latest developments, election results and reactions as Kosovo goes to the polls to elect a new government.
00:09 According to preliminary figures of the Central Election Commission which, so far, has counted 47,85 per cent of all casted ballots, the PDK leads with 29.97 per cent followed by the LDK which won 26.18 per cent, the Vetevendosje Movement 12.15 per cent, the AAK 10.33 per cent and NISMA 6.23 per cent.
“As by tomorrow morning we will continue to fulfill our duties. As by tomorrow we will start to implement our ‘New Mission’,” Hashim Thaci, head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo said in his speech.
22:30 Kadri Veseli, deputy head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo declared the victory of the PDK.
‘Let me confirm that the PDK is a convincing winner of the 2014 national elections’, he said in a press conference.
22:12 Kosovo and its people passed this challenge with dignity and maturity in the consolidation of our state, Atifete Jahjaha, Kosovo president said on Twitter.
21:20
20:38
Ext poll in national elections PDK winning again with 33%, LDK: 30% AAK: 9% VV: 15% AKR: 3% Limaj’s NISMA: 5% –
— Petrit Selimi* (@Petrit)
20:09 Most of the political parties praised the election process in Kosovo. The AAK asked for "correct" counting procedures, while the LDK announced it won't accept the results if there are major irregularities.
19:45 The first preliminary results are expected to be announced after midnight.
19:41 After a big last minute voter rush in Gracanica, 3056 of 7727 voters cast their ballots.
19:12 The CEC said some 43.46 per cent of more than 1,700,000 voters cast their ballots until 7pm when the polls closed.
19:00 Polls close.
18:03 Some Serbs were not allowed to vote with their Serbian documents in the towns of Peja/Pec, Istog/Istok, Klina and Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje, Nenad Rikalo of the Kosovo Election Commission said.
17:57 As Kosovo national polls are nearing the end, Tracey Ann Jacobson, US ambassador to Kosovo, has urged authorities to act responsibly during the counting process as well.
'I hope we’ll have more participation throughout the day and that we’ll see a continued responsible behavior through the counting as well,' the ambassador told BIRN.
17:34 The Kosovo State Prosecution said it is investigating several cases involving more than ten people who allegedly bribed voters during the process. The cases were reported in the Mitrovica and Lipjan region.
17:00 The Kosovo Police announced they have arrested one of the members of the NGO "The Free Vote" [Vota e Lire] which made phone calls to random people asking them whether they have voted today. The prosecution is investigating the case. The arrest comes following BIRN's reporting on the issue.
16:46 So far 14 complaints related to alleged irregularities during the elections have been handed out to the Elections Complaints and Appeals Panel, ECAP, officials at the panel told BIRN.
16:03 The Central Election Commission said that 26,47 per cent cast their ballots until 3pm. The highest turnout is registered in the multi-ethnic municipality of Mamusha where 37.37 per cent of voters cast their ballots. The lowest turnout, meanwhile, is registered in the northern municipality of Leposavic where only 14.68 per cent of people voted until 3 pm.
15:40
Today we also have reason to follow the parliamentary elections in Kosovo.
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt)
15:13 BIRN reporter from the Serb-run north of Mitrovica says the situation in Zubin Potok and Mitrovica is calm and quiet. "Unlike 2013 local polls which were marred with several incidents in the north of Kosovo, the national elections are going smoothly in that part of the country," BIRN team in the Serb-dominated areas reports.
15:02 So few voters in Zubin Potok area (Serb-run north of Kosovo) that one of the polling staton workers has laid down for a nap. Photo credit: Valerie Hopkins.
14:52 Visar Arifaj, head of the the Strong Party (Partia e Forte) specialized in sarcasm and satire called on "militants of parties" to cast their ballots.
'Those who are no militants don’t need to vote', he said.
14:35 The Basic Court in Pristina said it had launched an investigation against an NGO which calls itself 'The Free Vote' because it has been calling people on the phone asking them if they are going to vote.
Ikramije Bojaxhiu, Pristina prosecutor in charge of elections told BIRN: 'It is important to stop these phone calls first'.
'Afterwards we will try to identify the people', she added.
The prosecution is cooperating with the Kosovo Police in this case.
People who made these misterious calls said the results of this survey would be posted on their website votaelire.com, but this site does not exist.
14:28 LDK said no irregularities in the election process have been reported so far.
14:22 'Democracy for Action', a coalition of NGO’s which are monitoring the elections, said there were several minor incidents in polling centers across Kosovo.
Observers from 'Democracy for Action' reported there were thousand cases of family votes, hundreds of assisting people to vote... These cases are considered to be illegal.
14:16 Zoran Mojsilovic, a candidate for deputy of the Serbian List, told reporters that Kosovo Serb participation in the election was important for the Serbian community, because this is the way Serbs can have a greater influence on Kosovo policy than before.
"I hope that we will, with the help of the Republic of Serbia and our people in the Kosovo parliament, contribute to the community of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and make life easier for our citizens," said Mojsilovic.
13:43 A bride seen casting her ballot in Pristina has to make two choices today.
13:37 The Democratic Party of Kosovo said it is continuously maintaining contacts with its staff in all municipalities across Kosovo. So far, the PDK said, there was no report on any case which could have damaged the election process except for sporadic and technical issues like lack of spray and delays in opening polling stations.
13:22 EU Special Representative to Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, has expressed happiness over the election course so far. Visiting a polling station in Pristina, he saw no irregularities, as he said.
13:18 Mayor Rufki Suma of Hani i Elezit: "I don't believe the big promises of all the big parties," BIRN team in Han i Elezit reported. Suma is the only independent candidate who was re-elected mayor of Han i Elezit in 2013 local polls.
13:14 While the turnout in the North is around 5%, in Skenderaj is around 13% and highest in Mamusha around 17%.
13:02 Turnout until in Serb-populated areas until 11am: Mitrovica 4,4, Gracanica 10, Strpce 11 and Novo Brdo 8,6.
13:00 Ian Cliff, British Ambassador to Kosovo on RTV21 calls on Kosovo citizens to seize this opportunity and vote on fair and democratic elections.
12:48
Observing Election Day in Pristina
— roberto gualtieri (@gualtierieurope)
12:42 Valdete Daka, head of CEC said the process is going well, while commissioners have been urged to respect CEC decisions and instructions.
Prior to the elections the CEC decided to print 5.7 per cent ballots less compared to previous elections, but Daka ensured this will not have an impact to the voters turnout.
12:33 "The European Union wishes to see free, fair and inclusive legislative elections take place on 8 June throughout Kosovo. These are the first elections after the successful conclusion of negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and Kosovo. Kosovo has made impressive progress in its relations with the EU and in the normalisation process with Serbia over the past two years. We are looking forward to continue our close engagement and commitment to Kosovo with the new Government after the elections," a press release reads.
12:28 People in Kosovo are invited to send an SMS to 50088 (free from all mobile providers) to report voter fraud or intimidation.
12:13 Kosovo Serb Marko Jaksic said on his Twitter account that if the turnout trend continues in the Serb-run north of Mitrovica, about 2500 people (<10%) will cast their ballot.
12:07 Albin Kurti, Head of the Vetevendosje Movement, said the elections were important for democracy and state-building process in Kosovo.
'Now democracy is not closed in halls and rooms of institution buildings, but is opened across Kosovo to everyone. Today, people are massively becoming decision-makers for the future of our society', Kurti said after he cast his vote.
12:02 The Central Election Commission said that 9.92 per cent cast their ballots until 11am.
11:59 Kohavizion reports, citing sources from the CEC, that the turnout in Kosovo stands at 10 per cent.
11:55 Slobodan Dimitrijevic, Head of the Municipal Election Commission in Mitrovica, told Tanjug news agency that there were no irregularities reported at 33 polling stations there.
11:45 Only 316 voted by 11 am in Sveti Sava school in North Mitrovica. During November local elections, by this time 1,000 had voted, said the OSCE in the polling station in North Mitrovica.
11:28 KFOR commander, Italian General Salvatore Farina, said in the divided town of Mitrovica that KFOR guarantees the safety of all citizens in Kosovo on the election day.
11:20 Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said while casting his ballot that today was a "historic day" for the country. He described the elections as 'a battle of competition' urging all people to cast their vote.
'I believe that Kosovo, its people and the political spectrum will send the best message to the world that democracy is acting and developing in Kosovo, while pluralism is prevailing', head of the Democratic Party of Kosovvo, PDK, said.
11:09 The leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, Isa Mustafa, said while casting his ballot that today's winner will be the people of Kosovo.
"I want everyone to vote because the elections are the best way for citizens to decide on future leadership," said Mustafa.
11:00 Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Kosov,o Roberto Gualtieri, said that the vote is going well and smoothly.
During his visit to a polling station at the Faculty of Philology of the University of Pristina, he said that the presence of EU observers will assure peaceful and regular flow of today's election.
10:39
voting today. 1st time ever, Serbs also vote in north of the country, marking a new stage of integration of minorities.
— Petrit Selimi* (@Petrit)
10:00 Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga cast her ballot in Pristina urging all people of Kosovo to vote.
'These elections prove democratization and determine the level of maturity of our state and our comprehensive society', she said.
09:45 Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, was the first political leader to cast his ballot.
"Today is an important day for Kosovo. Kosovo citizens will vote for the country's future, a new direction that will move Kosovo. I want a free and democratic elections," said Haradinaj.
09:10 Milivoje Mihajlovic, Serbian government spokesperson, told Serbian public service broadcaster RTS that he expected Serbs to come out en masse and win as many seats in the Kosovo parliament.
"I think the Serbs will come out and get bigger part in the parliament of which their future depends," Mihajlovic said.
08:05
Make sure your voice is heard today! Get out and vote! Alb: Serbian:
— Amb. Tracey Jacobson (@AmbTracey)
08:00 Valdete Daka, head of the Kosovo Central Election Commission urged all the people to cast their ballot.
07:00 A total of 1,782,454 voters are eligible to cast ballots at 2,374 polling stations in Kosovo. They will choose between some 30 parties for seats in the national parliament.
