"Kosovo Serbs are voting in a snap parliamentary election following months of political deadlock, after the ruling Vetevendosje party, led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti, failed to secure a governing majority in elections held in February. After several attempts to form a new government collapsed, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani dissolved parliament in November and called an early vote. Local residents in Serb-majority areas expressed cautious optimism as polling got underway. “The way it’s started, I think it will be better. And I think that the Serbian List [party] will also get the votes and be accepted, at least in some municipalities,” one resident said. Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic publicly backed the Serbian List party, saying he expected it to win the largest share of seats representing the Serbian community. Vucic said elected representatives should act in the best interests of Kosovo Serbs. Relations between Kosovo and Serbia have deteriorated over the past year. In January, Kosovo authorities raided ten Serbian-linked government offices. Pristina has also banned the Serbian dinar, closed banks operating with the currency, and shut post offices used to distribute Serbian pension payments. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move Belgrade has never recognised. Serbia continues to regard Kosovo as an autonomous province, with disputes persisting over sovereignty, governance and the security of ethnic Serbs. Russia and China are among the countries that also do not recognise Kosovo’s independence."