Democratic League of Kosovo

The shortest election campaign in Kosovo's history will end on Friday midnight - but experts warn that the battle for power is likely to become harsher in the final days.

Shpend Kursani, a political expert, said the campaign would likely get tougher, precisely because the outcome of the election was so uncertain.

Kosovo's opposition Vetevendosje Movement has filed a complaint at the Election Appeals and Complaints Panel, EACP, accusing Thaci of misusing “public funds” in campaigning for the general elections.

General elections will be held on June 8, while the campaign will last from May 28 to June 6.

With 90 votes in favour, four against and three abstentions, members of the Kosovo Assembly dissolved parliament, paving the way for early elections expected in June.

By law, elections must be held between 30 and 45 days from the date of the dissolution of the Assembly.

Amid continuing uncertainties over the date of national elections in Kosovo, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has proposed June 8 as a potential option.

He made his proposal on Friday to the President, Atifete Jahjaga, at a meeting held at the presidency building in Pristina.

Kosovo police announced they had arrested 11 people suspected of abusing official authority and economic authorization, and of fraud, related to the privatization of a company.

Baki Kelani, police spokesperson, said the arrests concerned the privatization of Fan, a company based in Podujeva/Podujevo.

The company was sold off by the Privatization Agency of Kosovo, PAK.

“Ramadan go!”, “The municipality is ours!”, protestors shouted, demanding the resignation of Ramadan Muja, mayor of Prizren municipality in western Kosovo.

Police arrested four people as they marched ahead the headquarters of the municipality, led by the organizers of a group called “Active Citizens For Prizren”.

Opposition MPs condemnd the decision of the Kosovo government to increase salaries for employees in the public sector by 25 to 50 per cent on Thursday.

The custody decision was taken on Wednesday but made public on Thursday after the defence received it in writing. The EU rule-of-law mission, EULEX, said: “All of the defendants are charged with the offence of organized crime related to the offences of abuse of official position, trading in influence and fraud”.

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - Citizens of northern Kosovska Mitrovica, north Kosovo-Metohija, will vote in the elections for the local mayor on Sunday for the fourth time in under four months and the election silence began on Friday at midnight.