PRISTINA: The party of Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci held on to the most seats in parliament but failed to take a majority, according to initial results Monday, amid charges of irregularities. Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) took 33.5 percent of votes in Sunday's vote, the first since Kosovo had proclaimed independence from Serbia in 2008, the election commission said. Its main rival the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) had 23.6 percent after almost 99 percent of the ballots were counted, Central Election Commission president Valdete Daka announced. Analysts said that while Thaci's PDK would remain the largest group in the 120-seat parliament, according to the preliminary results, it would need coalition partners to form the government. Daka described the polls as “very successful”, noting a turnout of 47.5 percent of about 1.6 million eligible voters. But monitors from the European parliamant said there were serious allegations of fraud and US Ambassador Christopher Dell said he had personally witnessed ballot stuffing. Of particular concern to the opposition was the 95 percent voter turnout reported in Thaci's stronghold region of Drenica, which the LDK said was “impossible statistically and unacceptable politically”. The initial results also showed that newcomers, the Self-Determination Party, looked set to become the third biggest party in parliament with 12.2 percent of votes. Thaci's PDK would likely have to begin seeking out coalition partners, analysts said. – Agence France
