Polls open across Kosovo against backdrop of faltering economy, ethnic tensions

euronews (in English)

The vote is seen as a key test for incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurti and this is the first time since independence in 2008 that Kosovo's parliament has completed a full four-year mandate.

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00:00Polls have opened across Kosovo in legislative elections taking place against a backdrop

00:07of an ailing economy and renewed ethnic tensions.

00:11Voters will elect 120 lawmakers in what's being seen as a key test for incumbent Prime

00:16Minister Albin Kurti.

00:18Kurti's left-wing self-determination movement party is seen as the front-runner but isn't

00:23expected to win a majority to govern alone.

00:26The other contenders are the Democratic Party of Kosovo, whose former leaders are at a war

00:30crimes tribunal in The Hague, and the Democratic League of Kosovo, the oldest party in the

00:36country.

00:37On the campaign trail, parties pledge to increase public salaries and pensions, improve health

00:42services and fight poverty.

00:44Kosovo is one of the poorest countries in Europe, with an annual GDP of less than 6,000

00:49euros per person.

00:51The vote will also determine who will represent Kosovo in EU-led normalization talks with

00:56Serbia to get both sides closer to joining the bloc.

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