Kosovo is witnessing significant scrutiny as the counting of votes from the recent parliamentary elections held on February 9, 2025, uncovers instances of irregularities, particularly concerning the diaspora ballots. Reports from various sources indicate issues with invalid votes, prompting immediate attention from election officials.
At the Counting and Results Center (QNR), officials from the Election Complaint and Appeal Panel have been seen verifying boxes containing invalid ballots, as highlighted by KosovaPress. Earlier complaints had been raised by the Vetëvendosje Movement concerning some ballots being declared invalid. The process of counting mail-in votes is still underway, with the Central Election Commission (KQZ) reporting on March 2, 2025, approximately 66.31% of mail-in ballots already counted.
Current data from KQZ indicates Vetëvendosje, along with its coalition partners Guxo and Alternativa, leading with 52.72% of the votes counted so far. They are followed by the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) at 29.80%, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) at 7.98%, and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) trailing at 3.32%. The counting of votes submitted under conditional terms, including those from voters with disabilities, will commence once the current batch of votes is fully accounted for.
On the other hand, issues have erupted over the validity of some voting ballots received from abroad. Currently, there are concerns about certain ballots, deemed irrelevant as they belong to the previous elections. The question also arises whether this is the result of technical errors, issues with the distribution of voting materials, or simply misunderstandings on the part of voters themselves.
During the last parliamentary elections of 2021, over 56,000 diaspora votes significantly influenced the outcome, playing roles akin to pivotal votes during tight contests. Especially during these current elections, the importance of diaspora votes remains evident, shaping insights on the future political dynamics within Kosovo.
Examples flooding social media depict these irrelevant ballots, stirring public tensions and anxieties about proper election management. The KQZ has yet to issue any formal statements or clarifications on the matter, leading to confusion among voters as they await the results.
To date, by Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 4:00 PM, 89 out of the 187 ballot boxes (47.34%) dedicated to voters from different municipalities have been counted. Among the results, Vetëvendosje continues to lead with 51.34% of the votes counted so far, followed by LDK at 29.74%, PDK at 8.12%, and the AAK with its coalition at 4.15%.
Echoing concerns from earlier statements, some members of the election panel and political observers have stressed the necessity for clarity and accuracy as the KQZ grapples with these hurdles. Only time will reveal the full scope of repercussions stemming from this electoral anomaly.
With the counting of postal ballots expected to conclude soon, tensions are high as various political entities, particularly Vetëvendosje and LDK, navigate the aftermath of these irregularities. Their interactions, alongside the electoral oversight bodies, will demonstrate how Kosovo addresses these challenges as it strives to uphold democratic principles.
On the ground, observers recommend careful monitoring of future processes as these electoral complications highlight the need for systemic review to avert similar occurrences. With KQZ yet to comment extensively on the diaspora's irregular ballots, let’s anticipate how this will impact the parliamentary composition moving forward.
The 2025 parliamentary election process reveals not only political divides but also the high stakes involved as Kosovo prepares itself for either cementing existing power structures or ushering new leadership as the consequences of these electoral irregularities begin to play out.