Former Prime minister Hashim Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo(PDK) is the winner of Sunday' s general elections in Kosovo, first poll surveys estimate.
Based on results published from "Gani Bobi" survey agency, PDK won 31 percent of the votes followed by Democratic League of Kosovo(LDK) with 25 percent. The error margin is 2.5 percentages.
The surprise result has the seal of "Vetevendosje"(Self- Determination) movement which won 17 percent of the votes in their first participation in the elections.
The survey is conducted in voting centers with voters after they cast their vote. A total of 2,200 voters were polled.
Meanwhile, PDK's vice president, Hajredin Kuqi, said his party is leading in the process, and according to their own reports his party has a difference of 10 percent with the second party, LDK.
The turnout seems to be high as well as expectations from the new government. The territory suffers from high unemployment rates and promises for new jobs have been at the heart of the campaign. Almost half of the qualified people have no jobs.
"I voted in hope of ending the jobless life", said to Xinhua Ramiz Demiraj, 38, a baker from southern town of Prizren.
Official preliminary results are expected late Sunday night. No matter who comes first at last, the next government has to be composed of more than two parties. The two biggest parties, PDK and LDK, have both said they will not form a joint coalition. Two new parties "Vetevendosje" and "Fer" is expected to further complicate the results landscape. LDK is regarded a moderate party and is in better relations with other parties than PDK, but its leader Isa Mustafa said he would prefer to remain in the opposition if his party doesn't win the elections.
The new territory also suffers from corruption, and EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) is investigating senior government officials on suspicion of organized crime.
"A clear policy of next government has to be the fight against corruption, otherwise there is no prosperity for this nation" said physician Ilaz Pnishi in the northern town of Gjakova.
Even not mentioned too much, the first serious challenge for the next Kosovo government will be the dialogue with Serbia. The northern part of the territory remains out of the Pristina's authority, and the dialogue with Serbia is dedicated to find a solution on that region.
