Kosovo’s ‘war wing’ coalition wins parliamentary vote

Series Title
Series Details 12.06.17
Publication Date 12/06/2017
Content Type

Background

The legislative election was called in May 2017 following a motion of no-confidence approved in Kosovo's parliament against the coalition government led by Isa Mustafa. The dissolved government comprised the LDK and the PDK, among others. The PDK's decision to back the motion of non-confidence allowed it to be approved.

Mr Mustafa's party, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), took part in the election as the head of a grand coalition which came third at the polls. The incumbent Prime Minister was not running for office.

The result of Vetëvendosje party was seen as the biggest surprise of the election, doubling its support since the previous election. Analysts highlighted its success gathering the protest vote against corruption and the political elite.

The winning coalition was led by the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) and the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). The AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj ran as candidate for Prime Minister, while the country's President Hashim Thaçi is a member and former leader of the PDK party.

The election of Mr Haradinaj was seen as potentially damaging for the relations with Serbia, given the international arrest warrant on war crimes charges issued by the Serbian authorities. He was one of the leading figures of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), together with Mr Thaçi.A coalition comprising 14 parties won the legislative election in Kosovo on 11 June 2017, according to results published by the Electoral Commission.

That coalition was led by the AAK and the PDK, whose leader Ramush Haradinaj was also the candidate to become Prime Minister. The Vetëvendosje party achieved a surprising second place and the coalition led by the LDK party was third.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/kosovos-war-wing-coalition-wins-parliamentary-vote/
Related Links
ESO: Key source: Kosovo Parliamentary Election, 11 June 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/kosovan-parliamentary-election-2017/
Balkan Insight, 12.06.17: Kosovo Ex-Warriors Take Lead in Election Battle https://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-ex-warriors-take-lead-in-election-battle-06-11-2017
BBC News, 16.06.17: Kosovo's Ramush Haradinaj, ex-KLA commander, set for election win http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40237753
Deutsche Welle, 11.06.17: Kosovo holds snap election with war crimes court, economy in focus http://p.dw.com/p/2eTBs
Euronews, 11.06.17: Kosovo election: exit poll shows PDK in lead http://www.euronews.com/2017/06/11/leaders-cast-their-vote-in-kosovos-snap-election
Reuters, 11.06.17: Kosovo centre-right coalition on course to win parliamentary vote https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kosovo-elections-idUSKBN1910ZO
The New York Times, 11.06.17: Ex-Rebel Leader Is Poised to Win Kosovo Election https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/11/world/europe/kosovo-prime-minister-ramush-haradinaj-rebel-leader.html
Politico, 11.06.17: Ex-fighters get band back together for Kosovo election http://www.politico.eu/article/ex-fighters-get-band-back-together-for-kosovo-election/
France24, 11.06.17: Kosovo holds snap election amid Balkan political turmoil http://www.france24.com/en/20170611-kosovo-holds-snap-election-amid-balkan-political-turmoil
TRT World, 11.06.17: Centre-right coalition set to win Kosovo election http://www.trtworld.com/europe/centre-right-coalition-set-to-win-kosovo-election-377390
B92, 12.06.17: Thaci-Haradinaj coalition wins most votes in Kosovo election http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2017&mm=06&dd=12&nav_id=101512
Deutsche Welle, 13.06.17: [Opinion]: Nationalism wins in Kosovo elections http://p.dw.com/p/2eXYc
EUObserver, 12.06.17: EU-critical radicals double support in Kosovo https://euobserver.com/enlargement/138172
Euro|Topics: Debates, June 2017: Major political change in Kosovo after elections http://www.eurotopics.net/en/180738/major-political-change-in-kosovo-after-elections
EurActiv, 16.06.17: [Opinion] Kosovo lurches to nationalism as Brussels lets down its friends http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/opinion/kosovo-lurches-to-nationalism-as-brussels-lets-down-its-friends/

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