Referendum Questioned for Leaving Leaders in Northern Kosovo

The referendum's success in removing the current mayors of four municipalities in northern Kosovo appears to have been questioned since the Serbian political subject's decision, the Serb List, to boycott it. Recognisors of political developments in the north say the necessary 50 per cent turnout plus one of the registered voters, in this referendum, seems hard to reach.

The Central Election Commission continued working on Saturday as well as organising the referendum for the removal of four municipalities in northern Kosovo, which would pave the way for new elections. But his success has been questioned because of Belgrade-backed Serbian List's decision to boycott him.

Milica Andric Rakic, from the organisation “The New Social Initiative”, said in a conversation with the Voice of America that the referendum appears to fail.

We could have a successful vote in Zvecan and Leposavic, but it's very difficult. For Zubin Potok, I'm almost sure it's not achieved because most of the residents who have left the north are from Zubin Potok, but right after him comes North Mitrovica. Therefore, I would say that if it succeeds, it could happen in Zvecan and Leposavic, but that would be very optimistic, the most likely are to fail in all four municipalities”, she says.

The chairman of the northern Mitrovica municipal assembly, Nexhat Uglanin, told the Voice of America that the call of the Serbian List for boycotting this process is evidence of the push Belgrade continues to exercise on Kosovo Serbs.

The influence of the Republic of Serbia is clearly major in the northern part, especially by the political subject Serbian List. The boycott will be realised and citizens from the Serb majority will not be declared for the chairman's dismissal. But the CEC process will not be halted but will be carried out in a democratic manner”, Mr. Uglanin said.

To be successful, the referendum requires participation of 50 per cent plus one of the eligible voters. Political representatives of the Serbs here, but the authorities in Belgrade, say it is difficult to meet this criterion because “inflating voter lists”, but without giving any evidence of that claim. Meanwhile, authorities in Kosovo accuse Belgrade of exercising pressure on Kosovo Serbs not to participate in the April 21st vote, which, in the event of failure, cannot be organised again until 12 months have passed.

Even before the petition was signed, we had problems with the swollen number of registered voters since December 2023, so only less than five months ago we had 45 thousand voters and now we have 46 thousand registered voters. So even then it was clear that these numbers are not really accurate”, says Mrs. Rakic.

“There is certainly no growth in lists because, as you know, 18-year-olds are being reported here for IDs in administration evidence, and that's why it's up to the inspiration of the list because they're right to vote and that's not the swelling of the list that claims a political subject by most Serbs. But in all four municipalities come and announce those citizens who have rights, especially those displaced persons who are from Kosovo territory are coming for ID”, says Mr. Uglan.

Ambassadors of the United States, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, as well as the European Union office in Pristina, urged the Serbian List on Wednesday to reconsider the decision to boycott the polls in the north.

Currently, northern Mitrovica municipalities Zubin Potok, Leposavici and Zvecan are led by Albanian leaders released from last year's 23 April elections, which were boycotted by Serbian political parties.

Sending the mayors to their offices late last month was strongly opposed by groups of Serb citizens who clashed with Kosovo police and NATO peacekeeping forces, wounding over 90 KFOR members.

The Kosovo government, which faced punitive measures by the European Union due to tensions in the north, agreed to organise new elections as part of efforts to intensify the situation with Serbia.