Balkans | Uncertainty over local elections in northern Kosovo

Uncertainty continues regarding the holding of extraordinary local elections on April 23 in 4 municipalities in northern Kosovo, most of which are Serbs.

The Central Election Commission of Kosovo has decided to reduce the number of polling stations to hold extraordinary local elections in four municipalities in northern Kosovo from 44 to 19.

13 of these alternative centers will be installed in containers in secure areas.

Kosovo Parliament Speaker Glauc Konjovka said that Kosovo cannot be conditional on Serbia holding elections in the north of the country.

“Serbia cannot be required to decide when elections can be held in Kosovo. The election date has been set. A compromise has been reached before and the elections have been postponed once. It has been postponed at the request of the international community. We have received assurances from them that they will not delay more than Once “. He said.

Former Prime Minister of Kosovo and leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj called for postponing the elections scheduled for April 23 until the situation calms down in the north. Currently, the electoral process in the North is unstable. As far as I can see, with the information I have, the current situation will not lead us to success, and the election process will not lead us to success.”

It was reported to have been postponed to April 23 due to the dangerous security situation.

The President of Kosovo, Fyuza Osmani, announced that the extraordinary local elections in the municipalities of North Mitrovica, Zubin Potok, Leposavic and Zvecan were to be held on December 18, 2022, following the withdrawal of Kosovo Serbs from the center and local. Kosovo institutions, to April 23 due to the precarious security situation in the north of the country.

The Serbian List, the largest Serb party in Kosovo, has announced that it will not participate in the extraordinary local elections in the north of the country.

Recently, the cars of 8 people who changed their number plates issued by Serbia to those of the Republic of Kosovo (RKS) were set on fire in this area.

A Serbian citizen was also injured in the area with a gun, and 4 Kosovo police officers were reportedly suspended in connection with the incident.

Relations between Serbia and Kosovo

Although Kosovo is recognized as an independent country by 117 countries, it is described as one of Europe’s “frozen conflict zones” due to persistent ethnic tensions in its north and its inability to become a member of the United Nations.

Serbia considers Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence in 2008, to be its territory.

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