CEC's decision on the process of leaving four leaders in the north, step towards lowering tensions

The European Union has welcomed the CEC's decision to hold the vote on the departure of Albanian mayors in four majority Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo. Now, preparation for quiet voting process is needed, writes DW.

The Central Election Commission made a decision on April 21st to hold voting for the removal of Albanian mayors in the four Serb-run populated municipalities in northern Kosovo. The vote will take place in northern Mitrovica, Zveçan, Zubin Potok and Leposaviq, following the petition that the CEC deemed successful, where 20% of eligible voters in each municipality signed the already verified petition.

The Central Election Commission Secretariat considers that the most appropriate time for organising the voting process could be April 21st, 2024”, said CEC Secretariat Director Burim Ahmetaj.

Under the administrative directive approved last year by the government, which allows the removal of mayors, the vote is named successful -- when 50 per cent quotas are reached -- plus a vote of citizens with the right vote. After that result, then Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has a legal deadline of 30 to 45 days to announce holding early elections in four municipalities in northern Kosovo.

Positive Reactions From the EU and O SBE 

The CEC's decision on 21 April to hold voting for the removal of Albanian mayors from Serb-run municipalities in the Serb-run north was welcomed by the chief of the European Union office in Pristina, Thomas Szunyog. He said that “estimates the decision to set the date for the mayors' dismissal, adding “tam is essential for the Central Election Commission to make the necessary preparations to ensure a quiet process and to create conditions for free and fair vote”.

Michael Davenport, Chief of the O Mission, said on the same line. The SEU in Kosovo. “Verification of the Election Commission for signatures in support of the vote for the withdrawal of mayors in all four northern municipalities is a welcome step, as is the decision to appoint the polls. Now it's important that the process develop fairly, inclusive and transparently”, davenport wrote on the social network “X”.

Even European Parliament rapporteur Violet von Cremon welcomed the CEC's decision on the appointment of voting for the removal of mayors, which, according to her, “to open the way for further escalation”. All participants in the process should have equal treatment and respect democratic procedures to have free and fair elections in the north”, Von Cromon wrote on the X network.

Past elections rejected by local Serbs

In April of last year in four municipalities in northern Kosovo, in northern Mitrovica, Zvejaan, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok, early local elections were held, which were massively boycotted by local Serbs. With a small percentage of about 3%, four Albanian mayors were elected, but was never accepted by local Serbs. Protests and riots began when Albanian leaders, under the presence of special police units, settled in municipal assembly facilities.

Serbian clashes with police and peacekeeping forces, KFOR, where nearly 100 bodies of the latter were injured. The international community called for lowering tensions and announcing new elections in four municipalities in northern Kosovo, criticising the Kosovo government for unilateral actions. The Kosovo government, which faced punitive measures by the European Union, eventually agreed to hold new elections in northern Kosovo. / DW/