Yesterday, Kosovo held early parliamentary elections to form a new government amid a coronavirus pandemic, an economic downturn and stalled negotiations with Serbia.
With over 92.09% of the votes counted by the Central Election Commission , 47.66% of the votes are for Vetëvendosje, 17.35% of the votes for the Democratic Party of Kosovo, 13.39% for the Democratic League of Kosovo and 7.54% for the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo.
Incumbent Prime Minister Avdulla Hoti, in a statement to the media, said he accepted the defeat and guaranteed a normal transition of power.
"On behalf of the LDK, we will be uncompromising defenders of democracy and pro-Western orientation, being a constructive opposition in the interest of the state of Kosovo," said Mr. Hoti.
The chairman of this party, Isa Mustafa, said that "the Democratic League respects the election result, whatever it is" and "in the future, there will be an in-depth analysis of them."
Enver Hoxhaj, the leader of PDK, congratulated Lëvizja Vetëvendosje for the victory and stated that "his party will not become part of the ruling coalition".
Chairman of the Self-Determination Movement, Albin Kurti, yesterday evening said "this is an extraordinary day for the future of the state of Kosovo".
"It was proved that the elections were a referendum. They stayed in the frost for hours to vote. This referendum for justice and against the capture of the state was won, it is something unprecedented in post-war Kosovo. Tomorrow begins a new day. We have a lot of commitments and a lot of work ahead of us. We will not take revenge on anyone, but we will seek justice without revenge. This victory is neither for me nor for Vetëvendosje, but it is for you. "
Meanwhile, the incumbent president of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani said that the voice and vote of the citizens "sounded" like never before.
“Jemi të vetëdijshëm për barrën e madhe që e kemi si rezultat i besimit të madh që na keni dhënë, por besimi juaj po ashtu do të jetë udhërrëfyesi ynë në këtë udhëtim. Përgjegjësia që na keni veshur është po ashtu një nder i madh se së bashku po vijojmë punën dhe zhvillimin e demokracisë”, tha ajo.
Zonja Osmani theksoi më tej se mandati qeverisës nuk do të jetë mandat për hakmarrje, e as mandat për kthimin mbrapa, por sipas saj është "një kapitull për punën që do të kryejnë".
Mbrëmjen e djeshme, qytetarët e Kosovës filluan festimet për rezultatin e zgjedhjeve edhe pse zyrtarët e Vetëvendosjes u bënë thirrje njerëzve të qëndronin në shtëpi dhe të mos kishte grumbullime, për shkak të pandemisë.
The US Embassy in Pristina congratulated the citizens of Kosovo who "voted peacefully today, despite the weather and the pandemic".
Encouraging to see so many citizens turn out to peacefully vote today, despite the ëeather & pandemic. Noë it's important to give the @KQZKosova and other #Kosovo institutions time & space to count the votes and do their jobs. # KosovoVotes2021 ?????
- US Embassy Pristina (@USEmbPristina) February 14, 2021
Source: Euronews, Voice of America
