US: Mayors remain in office, sorry Serbian List, and others did not reconsider their positions

The US and its partners closely followed the voting process, and even as the CEC finds voter turnout has been low.

“The US position is clear and unchanged: We support the varied, comprehensive, multiethnic democracy of Kosovo and the free, fair and legitimate elections that support it. In line with its legal requirements, Kosovo held a vote to withdraw mayors of municipalities on 21 April in four municipalities in northern Kosovo. This vote was demanded as a result of successful initiative efforts made by citizens within the existing legal framework and confirmed by the Central Election Commission”, an American Embassy spokesman said Sunday.

The spokesman quoted Ambassador Houvenier, who is important for citizens to exercise their democratic right.

“Sic has repeatedly said Ambassador Havenier and other US government officials, we believe it is important that Kosovo citizens have the ability to exercise their right to attract elected officials in line with Kosovo's legal framework, if they decide to do so”.

Despite that, the US laments the withdrawal of the Serbian List and Kosovo Serb politicians from the possibility of leaving the mayors in the north.

The “QUINT and the EU called on Lists Srpska and other Kosovo Serb political acts on 10 April to reconsider their positions to withdraw from turnout in this legal vote for the withdrawal of officials. We regret that they did not do so and therefore did not fully exploit democratic means available to them under Kosovo law to advance effective democracy and representative”, the answer follows.

The democratic participation “helps to ensure that leaders are the representatives of the population they serve. The vote is a critical freedom of democratic societies”.

The United States and its partners followed the process closely.

“We are aware that the Central Election Commission (KQZ) called on all voters with the right to vote. We appreciate the efforts made by Kosovo election officials to allow all Kosovo citizens registered in the four municipalities to participate in this democratic process. We understand from international survey teams that there have been extremely low voter turnout. Therefore, there is no decision by voters to withdraw mayors. The current mayors of municipalities were elected and remain in office according to the Kosovo legal framework”, the answer concludes.

Kreshnik Radoniqi, chairman of the CEC, after the closure of polling stations confirmed that the dismissal of four Albanian leaders in the north has failed due to the non-participation of citizens at the polls.

At a news conference called for the media, he said that in Zvecan there has been no voters.

The 23 polling stations were closed at 7: 00 p.m., according to data we've accepted in these four municipalities, the number of citizens who voted in the voting process for or against leaving the mayors is as follows:

Leposaviq 124 voters, Zubin Potok 18 voters, Zvecan has not voted any voters, and in North Mitrovica 111 voters”, Radoniqi said.

The majority of registered voters have not voted, so it has not been reached 50% plus 1 necessary, so we find that the civic departure initiative has failed”, he confirmed.