Residents of Serb-Majority Municipalities Boycott Referendum on Ethnic Albanian Mayors
PRISTINA — The tension between Kosovo and Serbia escalated as residents of four Serb-majority municipalities boycotted a referendum on Sunday aimed at removing their ethnic Albanian mayors from office. This move followed last year’s mayoral elections.
The vote was a crucial step in diffusing tensions between the two countries, both of which are seeking EU membership. However, Kosovo’s main ethnic Serb party, Srpska Lista, known as the Serbian List, urged a boycott of the referendum.
With only 253 out of 46,556 registered voters casting their ballots across all four municipalities, the mayors required a majority vote for ousting. In the Zvecan municipality, not a single ballot was cast.
“That is why we note that the citizens’ initiative to oust the mayors of the municipalities of Leposavic, Zubin Potok, Zvecan and North Mitrovica has failed,” said Kreshnik Radoniqi, head of the Central Election Commission.
This outcome solidifies the tense status quo in northern Kosovo and halts any progress in the EU-facilitated negotiations to normalize ties with Serbia. No significant developments are anticipated in the coming months.
Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani accused Belgrade of pressuring Serbs in Kosovo to boycott the referendum.
“Once again Serbia interfered illegally in the election process of another country. Once again (Serbian President Aleksandar) Vucic has not kept his word given to international partners (not to interfere),” stated Osmani.
Srpska Lista admitted its desire to “replace these fake mayors in our municipalities,” but claimed it did not want to participate in games orchestrated by the regime in Pristina. The party accused Kurti’s government of pressuring ethnic Serbs in the north through its police presence.
Kosovo was previously a Serbian province until a 78-day NATO bombing campaign in 1999 ended the war between Serbian government forces and ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosovo. The conflict resulted in approximately 13,000 casualties, mostly ethnic Albanians, and forced Serbian forces to withdraw. Serbia still does not acknowledge Kosovo’s 2008 independence.
The United States and the EU are facing challenges in resuming dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. Talks between the two sides stalled following a shootout where a Kosovo police officer and three Serb gunmen were killed after about 30 masked individuals opened fire on a police patrol near the Kosovo village of Banjska in September.
Brussels has cautioned both parties that their refusal to compromise jeopardizes the chances of Serbia and Kosovo joining the EU. — Euronews
