Pristina, 9 February 2025 (dpa/MIA) - About 2 million citizens in Kosovo are eligible to vote to elect a new parliament, as polling stations opened at 7 am (0600 GMT) on Sunday.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti's left-wing nationalist Vetëvendosje (Self-Determination) party is the clear favourite.

However, unlike four years ago, the party is unlikely to win an absolute majority of more than 50% of the vote this time.

The centre-right Democratic Party (PDK) and the centrist Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) are seen as the most important rivals.

Ten of the 120 parliamentary seats are reserved for ethnic Serbs and 10 more for other minority groups.

Kosovo is a potential candidate for EU membership. For the first time since 2010, a parliament in the country has utilized its four-year mandate.

Kosovo, which is now almost exclusively inhabited by ethnic Albanians, seceded from Serbia in 1999 with the help of NATO and declared independence in 2008.

More than 100 countries recognize its independence, but Serbia does not, and the population of ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo has proved a flashpoint in recent years.

Polling stations close at 7 pm. The first results are expected on Sunday evening.

The results of exit polls are likely to be available immediately after the polling stations close.