2019 Kosovan parliamentary election explained

Country:Kosovo
Previous Election:2017
Next Election:2021
Election Date:6 October 2019
Seats For Election:All 120 seats in the Assembly
Majority Seats:61
Turnout:44.59% (3.43pp)
Party1:Vetëvendosje
Leader1:Albin Kurti
Last Election1:32
Seats1:29
Votes1:221.001
Percentage1:26.27
Leader2:Vjosa Osmani
Party2:Democratic League of Kosovo
Last Election2:23
Votes2:206.516
Seats2:28
Percentage2:24.55
Party3:Democratic Party of Kosovo
Leader3:Kadri Veseli
Last Election3:23
Seats3:24
Percentage3:21.23
Color4:
  1. 1100FF
Party4:AAKPSD
Leader4:Ramush Haradinaj
Last Election4:10
Seats4:13
Percentage4:11.51
Party5:Serb List (Kosovo)
Leader5:Goran Rakić
Last Election5:9
Seats5:10
Percentage5:6.40
Color6:
  1. 542B79
Party6:NISMAAKRPD
Leader6:Fatmir Limaj
Last Election6:10
Seats6:6
Percentage6:5.00
Leader7:Rasim Demiri
Party7:Vakat Coalition
Last Election7:2
Seats7:2
Percentage7:0.84
Party8:Turkish Democratic Party of Kosovo
Last Election8:2
Seats8:2
Percentage8:0.81
Leader9:Veton Beriša
Color9:
  1. 076CA7
Last Election9:1
Seats9:1
Percentage9:0.58
Leader10:Emilija Redžepi
Party10:New Democratic Party (Kosovo)
Last Election10:1
Seats10:1
Percentage10:0.47
Leader11:Etem Arifi
Party11:Ashkali Party for Integration
Last Election11:1
Seats11:1
Percentage11:0.37
Leader12:Elbert Krasniqi
Party12:New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo
Last Election12:0
Seats12:1
Percentage12:0.21
Color12:
  1. 6B8E23
Leader13:Adem Hodža
Party13:Unique Gorani Party
Last Election13:1
Seats13:1
Percentage13:0.14
Leader14:Albert Kinolli
Color14:
  1. D2691E
Last Election14:1
Seats14:1
Percentage14:0.13
Prime Minister
Posttitle:Appointed Prime Minister
Before Election:Ramush Haradinaj
Before Party:Alliance for the Future of Kosovo
After Election:Albin Kurti
After Party:Vetëvendosje

Parliamentary elections were held in Kosovo on 6 October 2019. The main opposition parties received the most votes, led by Vetëvendosje and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti became Prime Minister, forming a governing coalition with the LDK on an anti-corruption platform. He is the second Prime Minister not to have been a fighter of the Kosovo Liberation Army during the 1990s.

Background

On 19 July 2019 Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj resigned after being summoned for questioning by the KSC in The Hague, Netherlands.[1] The constitution requires the President to designate a new candidate to either form a government, or hold new elections in between 30 and 45 days after consultation with political parties or coalitions who hold a majority in the Assembly. On 2 August 2019, President Hashim Thaçi asked the PANA Coalition to propose a new candidate to form a coalition government. However, other political parties opposed the move.[2]

On 5 August 2019, the Assembly of Kosovo agreed to hold an extraordinary session on 22 August, planning to disband itself so that elections could be scheduled.[3] Subsequently, on 22 August 2019, MPs voted to dissolve parliament, with 89 of the 120 voting in favour, necessitating elections within 30–45 days.[4]

Electoral system

The 120 members of the Assembly are elected by open list proportional representation, with 20 seats reserved for national minorities.[5] An electoral threshold of 5% was in place for non-minority parties.

Parties and coalitions

On 7 September the Election Commission published the official list of the 25 participating parties and coalitions.[6]

!Party!Candidate for Prime Minister!Votes received by the candidate for PM
Vetëvendosje (VV)Alternativa (Candidates run inside VV list)[7] Albin Kurti (VV)183 952 (VV)
Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK)PSHDK (Candidates run inside LDK list)[8] Vjosa Osmani (LDK)176 016 (LDK)
Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK)Movement for Unification (Candidates run inside PDK list)Kadri Veseli (PDK)145 881 (PDK)
100% Kosovo [9] Ramush Haradinaj (AAK)76 163 (AAK)
NISMA - AKR - PD Coalition[10] Fatmir Limaj (NISMA)25 918 (NISMA)
The Word (Fjala)Gëzim Kelmendi
Euroatlantic Party of Kosovo (PEK)Milaim Zeka
Independent (Esmir Rasi)Esmir Rasi
Serbian parties (10 seats reserved)
Serb List
Independent Liberal Party (SLS)
Serb Coalition (Sloboda)[12]
Party of Kosovo Serbs (PKS)
Other minority parties (10 seats reserved)
Romani, Ashkali and Egyptians4 seats reserved
United Roma Party of Kosovo (PREBK)
Kosovar New Romani Party (KNRP)
Ashkali Party for Integration (PAI)
Democratic Ashkali Party of Kosovo (PDAK)
Egyptian Liberal Party (PLE)
New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo (IRDK)
Bosniaks3 seats reserved
Vakat Coalition
Bosniak Party of Democratic Action of Kosovo (SDA)
New Democratic Party (NDS)
Turks2 seats reserved
Turkish Democratic Party of Kosovo (KDTP)
Gorans1 seat reserved
Civic Initiative of Gora (GIG)
Unique Gorani Party (JGP)
Movement for Gora (PG)

Opinion polls

Coalitions

PollsterDatePDKAAK
PSD
NISMA
AKR
PD
LDKLVOtherLeadAbstention
PIPOSExit Poll- 6 Oct25.812.35.827.9 28.1 0.2-
Klan KosovaExit Poll- 6 Oct22.2810.584.413030Tie-
SS4 Oct1911432284-

Parties

PollsterDatePDKAAKNISMALDKAKRALVPSDSLOtherLeadAbstention
NDI25 Apr161725205-
IPSP2 Apr16.112.15.321.21.60.219.72.21.11.5-
PIPOS1–2 Feb261452431193-12-
2019
UBO Consulting11–18 Dec20.512.66.327.1--22.6--10.94.5-
IFIMES19–28 Sep22.910.15.228.31.60.623.12.2-65.2-
KDI25 Aug–5 Sep18.48.84.923.81.70.617.624.12.65.415.6
KDI10–5 Jun2310.46.330.8--21.22.424.17.8-
2018
2017 election11 Jun 201733.7425.5327.496.127.126.25-

Results

The initial results showed that the pro-government NISMAAKRPD alliance fell only a few hundred votes short of meeting the 5% electoral threshold and lost all 10 of their seats. However, the Kosovo Election Complaints and Appeals Panel subsequently ordered around 3,782 votes originating in Serbia to be removed from the vote count as they had been delivered by Serbian officials rather than by post.[13] The removed votes allowed the NISMA-led alliance to cross the threshold and win six seats, a reduction of four from the prior election. Vetëvendosje and the Independent Liberal Party (which lost its parliamentary representation) were the only other parties to see a reduction in their seat totals. The Democratic League of Kosovo, Democratic Party of Kosovo, AAKPSD alliance and the Serb List all gained seats. Voter turnout was around 45%.

Aftermath

After the election, Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti formed a coalition with the LDK. However, the government collapsed on 25 March following a motion of no confidence.[14] Following the vote, the LDK formed a new government with the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, the Social Democratic Initiative and the Serb List. However, due to the Constitutional Court's ruling and a deputy's conviction, the government collapsed again and another election will be held within 40 days starting from 22 December.[15] [16]

Notes and References

  1. News: Kosovë: Ramush Haradinaj jep dorëheqje të parevokueshme. Shehu. Bekim. 2019-07-19. Deutsche Welle. 2019-07-22.
  2. https://www.botasot.info/aktuale-lajme/1134151/zyrtare-thaci-i-kerkon-koalicionit-pan-propozim-mandatarin-e-ri-per-kryeminister/ Zyrtare: Thaçi i kërkon koalicionit PAN propozim-mandatarin e ri për kryeministër
  3. News: Kosovo parliament to disband so early election can be held. 5 August 2019. Associated Press. 7 August 2019.
  4. News: Nga seanca plenare e Kuvendit. 22 August 2019. Kuvendi i Kosovës. 22 August 2019.
  5. http://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/2797/ Kosovo
  6. Web site: Këto janë subjektet politike që mund t’i votoni më 6 tetor. 2019-07-09. GazetaExpress. en. 2019-09-08. 2019-10-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20191006131711/https://www.gazetaexpress.com/keto-jane-subjektet-politike-qe-mund-ti-votoni-me-6-tetor/. dead.
  7. Web site: Kusari: Me VV-në kemi dallime, por jemi të fokusuar në atë se çfarë na bashkon. 2019-07-09. GazetaExpress. en. 2019-09-08. 2019-10-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20191006131710/https://www.gazetaexpress.com/kusari-me-vv-ne-kemi-dallime-por-jemi-te-fokusuar-ne-ate-se-cfare-na-bashkon/. dead.
  8. Web site: Kjo parti i bashkohet listës zgjedhore të LDK’së. 2019-02-09. GazetaExpress. en. 2019-09-08. 2019-10-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20191006131709/https://www.gazetaexpress.com/kjo-parti-i-bashkohet-listes-zgjedhore-te-ldkse/. dead.
  9. Web site: Kosovo parties sign first pre-election coalition. 2019-08-19. GazetaExpress. en. 2019-08-23. 2019-08-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20190823160851/https://www.gazetaexpress.com/kosovo-parties-sign-first-pre-election-coalition/. dead.
  10. Web site: Pacolli and Limaj sign pre-election coalition. 2019-08-23. GazetaExpress. en. 2019-08-23. 2019-08-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20190823160853/https://www.gazetaexpress.com/pacolli-and-limaj-sign-pre-election-coalition/. dead.
  11. Web site: Nisma dhe AKR arrijnë marrëveshje edhe me një parti tjetër. 2019-08-27. GazetaExpress. en. 2019-08-27. 2019-08-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20190827184406/https://www.gazetaexpress.com/nisma-dhe-akr-arrijne-marreveshje-edhe-me-nje-parti-tjeter/. dead.
  12. Web site: Bashkohen serbët e Kosovës për zgjedhje kundër Listës Srpska. 2019-08-28. GazetaExpress. en. 2019-08-28. 2019-08-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20190828181050/https://www.gazetaexpress.com/nenshkruhet-koalicion-parazgjedhor-nga-disa-perfaqesues-te-serbeve-ne-kosove-11/. dead.
  13. https://prishtinainsight.com/election-over-3700-votes-from-serbia-removed-from-final-count/ Election: over 3,700 votes from Serbia removed from final count
  14. Web site: The Guardian. Kosovans look on aghast as government falls while coronavirus bites. Walker. Shaun. 26 March 2020.
  15. News: Kosovo to hold early election as top court ruling topples government . 22 December 2020 . . en.
  16. News: Kosovo Heading For Fresh Elections After High Court Rules Parliament Vote For Government Was Illegal . 22 December 2020 . . en.