Polling Stations Open In Kosovo As Self-Proclaimed Republic Holds Parliamentary Elections - UrduPoint

 More than 2,200 polling stations opened across the self-proclaimed republic of Kosovo which holds parliamentary elections on Sunday.

Some 1.8 million people are eligible to vote, the Central Electoral Commission said.

The polling stations will close at 07:00 p.m. local time (18:00 GMT). Kosovars living abroad voted by mail from February 2-12. Over 19,000 local and international observers will be monitoring the voting procedure.

More than two dozen political parties are in a race to grab 120 lawmaker seats. The Serb List party is expected to win 10 seats that are reserved for ethnic Serbs living in Kosovo.

According to opinion polls, the Self-determination Movement (Vetevendosje), led by former Prime Minister Albin Kurti, is expected to receive the most votes.

The Democratic Party of Kosovo, founded by former President Hashim Thaci and ex-Parliament Speaker Kadri Veseli who are currently on trial in The Hague for war crimes, is expected to come second, followed by the Democratic League of Kosovo led by incumbent Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti.

Kosovo unilaterally proclaimed independence from Serbia in February 2008 and has been since recognized by nearly 100 countries. Serbia has not recognized Kosovo's independence and launched a campaign to convince other countries to not recognize it either.