Associated Press for Kosovo elections: Turnout decline reflects voter disappointment

Vetevendosje (LVV) won about 43% of the vote, followed by the Democratic Party of Kosovo with 21.7% and the Democratic League of Kosovo with 18%. However, the total of diaspora votes remains to be seen.

The Associated Press news agency (AP) has reported that even after this victory, Kurt's supporters, but also voters in general, have fallen in number, although the despair they feel of the prolonged political stalemate.

“Kurti and his party earlier had secured a comfortable majority of more than 50% of the vote in an early election held in December. Combined with the lowest turnout, the drop in support seems to reflect voter disappointment with key politicians who have kept this small Balkan state in a prolonged” crisis, the AP writes.

Turnout Sunday was 36.3%, while in December it was almost 45%.

Even POLITICO, the digital policy paper, has noted the loss <x0 significant” support for Kurti. According to the digital newspaper, the lowest total suggests that the Vetevendosje Movement would have to co-operate with the opposition if it intends to form a coalition and elect a new president.

“Diaspora can add 2-3 mandates to Kurti's Vetevendosje Movement, which means it can receive about 50 deputies. It cannot form governments with [the remaining ethnic minorities' parties], but no president can be elected without their approval”, said Besar Grogi, European integration expert at the Group for Jury and Political Studies.

The recent early elections in Kosovo came due to the parliamentary crisis, where the Parliament failed to elect a president. Kurti refused to support former President Vjosa Osmani for the post and instead proposed candidates from his party, who were boycotted by the opposition.

In an interview for Yeah. LITCO, Osmani had accused Kurti of removing European and American allies, saying Kosovo's “future cannot be held hostage by political ego”.