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The Kosovan parliamentary elections will be held in Kosovo on 12 December 2010 following a vote of no confidence in the government on 2 November.^[1]

Background

The election was initially called on 15 October 2010, after President Fatmir Sejdiu resigned in September 2010 over accusations of breaching the constitution by continuing to hold his party leadership while president. However, the next day the Democratic League of Kosovo announced it would leave the ruling coalition on 18 October 2010, which would require early elections to be held within 45 days of that date.^[2] After the government failed a vote of no confidence on 2 November 2010, the election was set for 12 December 2010.^[3][4] The vote was a result of Hashim Thaci's governing party supporting a no-confidence vote to trigger a snap elections.

This was to be the first election since Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence, and the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion on the legality of the declaration.

Reaction to election call

The call for a new election was condemned both within and without Kosovo because the incumbent government "orchestrat[ed] its own downfall," while election observers "warned the snap polls it triggered could damage Pristina at the international level."

Koha Ditore said: "Nowhere in the world has a government overthrown itself asking for it to be changed. It could only happen in Kosovo." Express Daily also added that the election was a result of "the way Hashim Thaci wanted it. The prime minister himself insisted on voting to overthrow the government." Other analysts also warned of ominous outcomes: Nexhmedin Spahiu said "Kosovo will pay the biggest price for it in the eyes of the international community. This will affect international recognitions because the crisis weakens the position of Kosovo." A journalist, Halil Matoshi, concurred with the reaction and aded that "the quick and dizzying fall of all the pillars of the system [proved] the political establishment is unable to ensure stability. It sends a very bad message for Kosovo as a new democracy at the time when the country is facing the Atlantic integrations and implementation of European standards to achieve ensure NATO and EU membership.^[5]

Parties

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) split before the election.^{[clarification needed]} In late October 2010, former Health Minister Bujar Bukoshi and Uke Rugova (the son of the late president Ibrahim Rugova) announced they would be filing a citizens' list called LDK – Ibrahim Rugova to run in the election.^[6]

At a party congress on 7 November, Pristina mayor Isa Mustafa was elected as the new leader of LDK, beating incumbent Fatmir Sejdiu with 235 to 125 votes.^[7]

The New Kosovo Alliance of Behgjet Pacolli signed pre-election agreements with the Justice Party and the Social Democratic Party of Kosovo in early November.^[8]

The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo of Ramush Haradinaj signed an agreement with the LDK – Ibrahim Rugova list on 10 November 2010.^[9]

The list of parties who filed for the election by the deadline included:^[10]

• Democratic Party of Kosovo
• Democratic League of Kosovo
• Alliance for the Future of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj – Ibrahim Rugova
• New Kosovo Alliance and their alliance
• Democratic League of Dardania
• Vetëvendosje!
• New Spirit Party
• PDAK 23
• Serb minority parties:
  • United Serb List (led by Ranđel Nojkić and the Serbian Renewal Movement in Kosovo and Metohija)
  • Alliance of Independent Social Democrats of Kosovo and Metohija
  • Serbian Democratic Party of Kosovo and Metohija
  • Serbian Kosovo and Metohija Party
  • Serb People's Party
  • Independent Liberal Party

Issues

Notes