Is there danger from holding elections in the north? Speaking mayoral candidates

These elections were set to be held on December 18th.

But, following numerous tensions, elections for North Mitrovica mayors Leposaviqi, Zubin Potok and Zvecan were postponed on April 23rd.

Regarding the election process, Front Online has spoken for the presidential candidate in Zubin Potok municipality, Izmir Zeqiri, who comes from the PDK.

Zeqiri said Serb criminal groups on election day could undermine the elections.

“We are preparing for elections, but we cannot say there will be no obstacles. If we refer to the burnings of cars in the north and the current situation there may be some planning to prevent elections by criminal groups from Serbia that could undermine these elections”, Zeqiri stressed.

He expects Albanian citizens to come out to vote.

According to Zeqiri, Serbian citizens will be sceptical of voting, as they have pressures from the Serbian state.

I expect that Albanian citizens will come out to vote as often as those Serbs may be too small because they fear Serb criminal groups. Each time, statistics in this municipality once emerge 11 to 15 Albanian citizens to vote and I expect all to come out to vote”, Zeqiri said.

The north election has also spoken of the candidate of the Civic Initiative “Mitrovica” as head of North Mitrovica, Betim Osmani.

He told Front Online he expects no tension on election day in the north.

“I believe there will be no tensions and elections will go well. If the CEC decides to postpone the elections, it decides but I don't believe they'll be delayed. We've done our constitutional work, we've run for chairman, and I believe it's going to be okay”, Osman says.

He has expressed optimism that Albanian citizens of Zubin Potok will come out to vote on Election Day.

The “for the vote will appear other communities not only Albanians, even though Serbs have pressure from the Serbian List and do not have support from our institutions. Mitrovica very small, but even few Albanians, the mood is not too big to go out and vote, but I am optimistic that it will emerge”, Osmani said.

Otherwise, the CEC has announced today that voting rights on April 23rd have 45,095 citizens or 1,345 more voters compared to the 2021 local elections.

The northern Mitrovica chairmanial candidates are Taulant Osmani from PDK, Erden Attic from VV and Betim Osmani from the Mitrovica Civic Initiative.

For the chairman of Zvecan are Ilir Peci from the PDK, Sladjana Pantovic as an independent candidate and Fetah Peci from VV.

The first of Zubin Potok's municipality is targeted by Izmir Zeqiri by the PDK and Flatrothan Hasani from the VV.

While for chairman of the Leposavic municipality are Albulen Behluli- Hetemi from the PDK, Aleksandar Jablanovic from the Kosovskih Srba Party and Lulzim Hetemi from VV.