Ex-rebel figure Thaci wins Kosovo polls with independence looming

Nov 18, 2007, 10:42 GMT

Pristina - The former Kosovo Albanian political representative Hashim Thaci declared victory Sunday in Kosovo's parliamentary polls and immediately repeated the promise that independence from Serbia is coming shortly.

'A new era is starting. The citizens of Kosovo have sent a message to the world that we are a democratic country and society,' Thaci said early Sunday morning.

'But the strongest message was that Kosovo is ready for its independence and its freedom,' he said, expressing confidence that the United States and European Union would support Pristina.

His Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has collected 35 per cent of the votes, according to unofficial figures, sweeping President Fatmir Sejdiu's Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) from power.

'PDK overran LDK,' the daily Express said. 'LDK, the biggest party, the biggest loser,' said Koha Sot.

LDK, the largest party in the province, formed 18 years ago by the late creator of the Kosovo Albanian independence movement Ibrahim Rugova, was punished by voters and collected only 22 per cent of the votes.

LDK is however expected to remain in power as the junior partner in a grand coalition, as Albanian leaders will want to forge a strong government quickly in time for the end of talks on Kosovo's status with Serbia on December 10.

In any case, Albanian politicians are monolithic in the view that Kosovo must become independent immediately and their compatriots, who make up 90 per cent of the 2.1 million Kosovars, think the same.

The newcomer Alliance New Kosovo (AKR), founded by millionaire businessman Behgjet Pacolli in 2006, came in third with 12 per cent of the votes and may also figure in a future coalition.

The elections were marred by a record low turnout of 45 per cent, which was attributed to disillusionment of voters not only just by the elusive sovereignty, but by everyday issues which include huge unemployment, poverty and even regular power blackouts.

Saturday's poll, which included voting for 30 municipal assemblies and mayors, was black-marked much more by the comprehensive boycott by the Serbs, who followed Belgrade's orders and kept away from polling stations.

Some 50,000 Serbs, huddled in the northern enclave of Kosovska Mitrovica along the boundary with Serbia, as well as the few tens of thousands of others scattered elsewhere in the province, fear that they would be driven out of an independent Kosovo

Now through the boycott, the Serbs lost control over the five municipalities with mixed population in which they are a majority. The situation in the exclusively-Serb municipalities around Mitrovica is unclear.

The United States, which has vocally supported Kosovo's independence, said that the Serbs harmed their own interest by refusing to vote.

'The US deeply regrets the decision of Kosovo Serbs, encouraged by Serbia, not to participate in these elections,' State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in Washington. The Serb community 'can only be disadvantaged by this decision.'

By comparison, in 2001 Serbs had won 11.3 per cent of the votes and, with seats guaranteed for minorities, they had 22 representatives. In the upcoming assembly they may take only the 10 seats reserved for them, Belgrade analysts said.

Saturday's elections were the third since a UN administration and a NATO peacekeeping force assumed control over Kosovo in mid-1999.

Belgrade refuses to recognize Kosovo's elected authorities and has been increasingly hostile to them as they assumed a larger share in governing from the UN administration.

Since NATO ousted its forces from Kosovo in 1999, Serbia has had only nominal sovereignty over the province.