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

Polls have opened across Kosovo in legislative elections taking place against a backdrop of an ailing economy and renewed tensions between ethnic Albanians and Serbs.

Eligible voters will cast their ballots to elect 120 lawmakers among 26 political groupings and one independent candidate in what’s being seen as a key test for incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

This is the first time since independence in 2008 that Kosovo's parliament has completed a full four-year mandate.

It is the ninth parliamentary vote in Kosovo since the end of the 1998-1999 war between Serbian government forces and ethnic Albanian separatists that pushed Serbian forces out following a 78-day NATO air campaign.

Serbia does not recognise Kosovo’s independence, proclaimed in 2008.

Kurti's left-wing Vetevendosje! or Self-Determination Movement Party is seen as the front-runner but is not expected to win the necessary majority to govern alone, leaving open the possibility the other two main contenders join ranks if he fails to form a Cabinet.

"On 9 February we vote for the future," said Kurti, "We vote for Vetevendosje!"

The other contenders are the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), whose former leaders are at a tribunal in The Hague accused of war crimes and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), the oldest party in the country that lost much of its support after the death in 2006 of its leader, Ibrahim Rugova.

During the election campaign the parties made big-ticket pledges to increase public salaries and pensions, improve education and health services and fight poverty.

However, they did not explain where the money would come from, nor how they would attract more foreign investment.

"We have a plan for each city, each family, each person," said Bedri Hamza