Maliqi: Most municipalities to go to runoff

According to him, it will be the last week of this campaign. Maliqi has told the newspaper “The new age” that there has been no severe division between power and opposition because all parties are aiming, if not to be winners and carriers of power, then become part of power through coalitions.

This campaign has been among the quietest so far and I believe it will last until the end. The main reason for this is that all parties aim, if not to be winners and carriers of power, then become part of it through coalitions. So we have no longer the severe division between power and opposition what we have seen in the battle for central power. Even at the local level since 2013, we have experienced, not with much consistency, almost all possible coalitions. Now this can become common practice”, Maliqi has expressed itself.

He has estimated that parties counting that they are entering the race with high priority, fear that if they do not win the clear majority (over 50% of the vote), they could lose in the runoff.

Maliqi has warned that such a thing could happen to the current chairman of Pristina and Mitrovica.

“Madje, even parties considered favourites at the local level, who estimate that they are entering the race with high priority, fear that if they did not win the clear majority -- more than 50 % of the vote -- could be lost in the runoff round.

Everyone remembers the case of Pristina and Mitrovica in the 2013 elections. The LDK, Isa Mustafa, respectively, had convincing advantage in the first round, but lost in the run-off because Shpend Ahmeti also voted on the electorate of other parties. The same setback occurred in Mitrovica with the PDK candidate. In the October 22nd elections, this could happen to favourites such as Shpend Ahmeti and Agim Bahtiri. The same applies to many other municipalities”, he has declared.

Maliqi has stressed that the possibility that some municipalities will bring out the mayor in the first round, but, according to him, the division of the electorate and the electoral system is such as favouring runoffs.

Maliqi has even said most municipalities will go to the runoff.

Even in the June elections, when most parties competed with coalitions, no contestant subject won the convincing majority to govern Kosovo alone. The Vetevendosje Movement!, racing without a coalition, won about 1/3 of the electorate, but neither does it believe it will grow, as it is saying, becoming an absolute winner. I don't think he can even get Pristina clean. However, it does not rule out the possibility that some municipalities will bring out the mayor in the first round, but the division of the electorate and the electoral system is such, which favours runoffs. I think we're going to have a run-off in most municipalities”, Maliqi said.

Whatever the case, he has said the October 22nd local elections will show the true status of political parties.

According to Maliqi, these elections could be the last alarm for PDK and LDK, showing or even deepening the extent of losses.

“Yes, in this respect, as a quantum vote, the results of municipal elections could be more clearly investigated as to what the true state of some major parties, but others, who were shocked by the results of the June elections. For example, these choices may be the last alarm for PDK and LDK, showing or even deepening the extent of losses. The continuation of their crisis will impose deep reflection and adaptation of time, which means allowing new minds and generations to penetrate their leadership, or will continue to reduce these parties.

The alarm will also ring parties that have hidden their weakness by cowering in coalitions, even becoming power factors like the AKR, but also the AAK of any other subject”, Maliqi has declared.