Unofficial results in Kosovo’s November 15 2009 local elections indicated that a number of municipalities could see second rounds of voting, while claims of victory included prime minister Hashim Thaci saying that his Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) had won 20 out of 36 municipalities, while president Fatmir Sejdiu’s Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) said it had won the mayoral election in Pristina.
 
The local elections were the first since Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008.
 
Voter turnout was estimated at 45 per cent, with a major issue having been the question of participation of ethnic Serbs in the voting. Media reports indicated that a minority of this minority had responded to the Kosovo government’s urging not to boycott the local elections, but in some areas, turnout by ethnic Serbs appeared to be close to zero.
 
A total of 74 political parties and civic groups took part in the elections. Official results were expected some time on November 16.
 
In the capital, Pristina, it was not expected that voting would go to a second round, but media reports and NGOs suggested that a further round of voting would be necessary in most municipalities.
 
While it had been expected that the PDK and LDK would do well in the elections, initial reports indicated that the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) had taken the majority in about 16 municipalities.
 
Kosovo media reported the US ambassador, Christopher Dell, as having urged people to turn out to vote.
 
Serbia, which insists that Kosovo’s self-declared independence was illegal, consequently rejects the local elections as illegitimate.
 
The BBC said that the vote was seen as a crucial test of the democratic credentials of Kosovo's young government, and observers are expected to give their verdict on whether polling met international standards - a crucial goal in Kosovo's search for wider recognition.
 
It has so far been recognised by 63 out of 192 UN members, and if the election is deemed to have been free and fair, that figure may increase, the BBC said.