Kosovo’s ruling party claims convincing win in snap election

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti said he intends to swiftly form a new government after preliminary results showed his party on track to comfortably win Sunday’s early parliamentary election.

The ruling left-wing Self-Determination Movement won about 49 percent of the votes in an election that was seen as vital to halting a year-long political crisis and kick-starting the country’s stalled hopes of joining the European Union.

The center-right opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) trailed far behind on 21 percent, while the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) secured 14 percent of the vote, authorities said after nearly all the ballots were counted. Turnout was around 44 percent.

Kurti, speaking at a press conference after the preliminary results were announced, claimed the result was “the biggest victory in the history of the country” and said he would look to form a new government as soon as the results were certified and parliament constituted. 

“We don’t have time to lose and must move forward together as quickly as possible,” Kurti said. His supporters cheered and chanted outside the party’s headquarters in the capital Pristina. 

Kurti’s party won the most votes in a parliamentary election in February but fell short of securing an absolute majority. After months of talks failed to produce a coalition government, President Vjosa Osmani called a snap election in November — the country’s seventh parliamentary ballot since it declared independence from Serbia in 2008.