PRISTINA (Kosovo), June 6 (SeeNews) – Kosovo will hold early general elections on Sunday, a month after parliament dissolved following ethnic Serb MPs' boycott of a vote on creating a national army.
Kosovo was scheduled to hold regular general elections in November.
These will be the country's second general elections after it proclaimed independence from Serbia in 2008.
A total of 1.8 million Kosovo citizens aged 18 and over are eligible to vote.
KEY CONTENDERS:
DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDK): A social democratic party, led by incumbent prime minister Hashim Thaci. The main party of the ruling coalition, that includes also the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) and several parties of the minorities. The party had 34 seats in the last parliament.
THE DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE (LDK): A conservative party. One of the main opposition parties, led by Isa Mustafa. It had 27 MPs in the last parliament.
MOVEMENT FOR SELF-DETERMINATION (Vetevendosje, VV): A radical nationalist party, led by Albin Kurti. It controlled 14 seats in the last parliament.
THE ALLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF KOSOVO (AAK): A centre-right party, one of the main opposition parties. It is led by former prime-minister and former commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) Ramush Haradinaj. It had 12 representatives in the last parliament.
THE NEW KOSOVO ALLIANCE (AKR): A liberal party, part of the ruling coalition. It had eight seats in the last parliament.
INITIATIVE FOR KOSOVO: Led by Fatmir Limaj, former transport minister who left the Democratic Party.
KEY FACTS ABOUT THE VOTE:
*The Assembly of Kosovo has one chamber. It consists of 120 members and is elected for a four-year term. Representation is proportional.
*A total of 20 seats of the parliament are reserved for minorities, 10 of which for the Serb minority.
*The entry threshold is set at 5.0%, minority parties are exempt.
*Kosovo has a 30% quota for women in the municipal and national assemblies.
*A total of 14 political parties were represented in the former parliament, nine parties representing the minorities – the Independent Liberal Party (SLS), the Turkish Party (KDTP), the United Serbia List (JSL), the Vakat Coalition, the Ashkali Democratic Party (PDAK), the Ashkali Integration Party (PAI), the Serb Party (SDSKM), the Gora Civic Initiative (GIG), the United Roma Party (PRBK).
*A total of 31 political entities will run in the elections: 19 political parties, 7 civil initiatives, four coalitions, and one independent candidate.
*A total of 2,374 polling stations were registered across Kosovo.
*The first general elections in the country were held in 2010 and were organized under international guidance and monitoring.