Will elections in northern Mitrovica be postponed after increasing coronary cases

Just because the pandemic in March was postponed elections for the first of the Podujevo municipality, but now Central Election Commission Chairman Valdete Daka says she does not believe there will be a series of election delays for these two municipalities.

However, it argues that if there is such a demand from health institutions, the Kosovo National Public Health Institute and the Ministry of Health, it will address the president to decide on these elections.

I don't believe (that there will be a delay) because we practically have the same situation even if we postpone them anyway we will still face COVID until the world is managed in another way, I don't think we'll have to postpone elections, because elections are being held anywhere around the world and we see elections in the United States as well. After all, it is a decision that does not depend solely on us. If we have such a request, of course we will address the president as the only person with the discretion to decide regarding the postponement of these” elections, she says.

The CEC chairman shows that they are making all necessary preparations for elections in the two municipalities to be held without any problem.

However, she says organising these elections is a challenge precisely because of the pandemic.

Once we received the decree from the president of the Republic of Kosovo, we have started with preparations for the extraordinary elections in northern Mitrovica, which has had to be prepared from the very beginning, that is, to take all legal actions. And as for the Podujevo people where we are left, since since March 14 we know they were delayed because of the pandemic, we have continued the actions that have not been completed. We're carrying out all technical preparations for this election, of course always focusing on the current situation that has to do with pandemic. It's going to be a challenge, because we're already seeing that these days are increasing the number of infected, but we're in touch with the IKSHPK and depending on the instructions we're going to get from them, so we're going to act”, says Daka.

As for measures to be taken for protection from COVID-19, the first CEC says they will act on the manual and make sure all IKSHPK recommendations are respected.

Daka says the safety of citizens and their health is in the first place.

“E we have a manual on how to behave during election day and at election gatherings, but we do, however, if in the meantime we get another instruction we will adjust. So we're going to arrange the class so that we can keep the distance required by law, but all of them have protective masks with them and we're going to put disinfectors in every classroom. Of course there will be additional costs, but in the first place, the safety of citizens and their health”, she says.

The elections for the first of the Podujevo and North Mitrovica municipality will be held on November 29th. We remember that these two municipalities were left without mayors after the same took positions in the Government of Kosovo.