Kosovo faced political gridlock on Monday with both the main parties claiming victory in the territory's first election since its declaration of independence in 2008. Exit polls by two independent non-governmental organisations put Prime Minister Hashim Thaci's party ahead, but well short of an overall majority that would enable him to avoid negotiating a coalition government.
The main opposition Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) meanwhile claimed it was in the lead, based on its own tally. First official results are expected late Monday. But even if Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo (PKD) remains the largest party, he will find it difficult to find coalition partners, according to analyst Kernar Gashi. "The very fact that the three main parties that can be considered for coalition are against a coalition with Thaci shows that he lost the elections politically," said Gashi, of the Kosovo Institute for Policy Research and Development, an independent NGO.
"Victory for Hashim Thaci's party is not enough to create a strong governing majority," the independent conservative Kosova Sot daily said, which added that a strong governing coalition needed partners of equal strength. Thaci had already proclaimed himself as the winner within hours of the polls closing on Sunday. "Victory is ours!" he told his supporters at a rally Sunday night. His supporters immediately poured into the streets of Pristina late Sunday in celebration and vehicles plastered in Thaci posters honked their horns.
Rival LDK supporters also turned out to celebrate and the two groups had to be kept apart by police. The opposition has complained about irregularities in Sunday's poll. The electoral commission reported a 95 percent turnout in Thaci's stronghold region of Drenica. Those results were slammed by the LDK as "impossible statistically and unacceptable politically". While the European parliament observer mission noted a "generally well organised election day" it added there were some worrying incidents, referring the allegations of ballot stuffing.