This set of elections in Serb-majority municipalities in northern Kosovo was supposed to act as a litmus test for the recently approved agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, a pact aimed at normalizing relations. Instead, it delivered a chilly outcome: minimal participation after a choice by the Serbian community to boycott the vote.
Preliminary tallies from the Kosovo Central Election Commission indicate who the winners are likely to be. The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Pan-Albanian Vetevendosje party are set to lead at the national level. In detail, the PDK performed well in Zubin Potok with about 52.1 percent and in Zvečan with around 60 percent, while Vetevendosje secured the majority in Leposavić at 73.5 percent and in Mitrovica, the region’s main city, at 66.5 percent. These figures reflect how the vote unfolded across several Serb-majority municipalities amid a broader political climate surrounding the northern region. (Source: Central Election Commission of Kosovo)
Yet, the turnout told a different story. Approximately 1,500 voters participated out of 45,000 registered across 19 electoral centers, equating to roughly 3 percent of the eligible electorate. In this area, Kosovo Serbs constitute more than 90 percent of the population, while a substantial portion of Kosovo Albanians abstained from voting. This stark disparity in turnout underscored the ongoing tensions and the political stalemate surrounding governance in the north. (Source: Central Election Commission of Kosovo)
boycott declared
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić had anticipated a low turnout, remarks he reiterated earlier this month in an interview with the Beta news service. He criticized Pristina’s decision to proceed with elections despite the Serbian community’s evident reluctance. Vučić called the situation an infestation of Kosovo Albanian policy in northern Mitrovica, arguing that the residents are accustomed to such moves. Nevertheless, the broader political consequences continued to unfold, signaling a rift with implications for Serb-majority areas and the wider relations between Belgrade and Pristina. (Source: Beta; French and European diplomatic reactions)
The closing chapter of a long-standing dispute between Belgrade and Pristina, with significant ramifications for northern Kosovo, began anew with this vote. The roots of the friction lie in Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence and Belgrade’s ongoing stance on the status of Kosovo as a whole. Policies aimed at integrating the Serbian community into Kosovo’s political institutions have repeatedly faced hurdles, contributing to frequent tensions and waves of migration among Kosovo Serbs. (Source: regional analysis)
condolences from Europe
The turnout and the political dynamics prompted European leaders to reflect on the situation. Elections originally scheduled for December were delayed, with street violence escalating after Kosovo Serb officials resigned from local institutions in November. Serbia’s list, a major component of the Serbian political scene in Kosovo, quickly announced its intent to boycott the poll. European diplomacy expressed regret over the result, noting that elections with such low participation do not readily offer durable solutions in a region already marked by volatility and mistrust. The French ambassador Olivier Guerot commented that the political climate in the area remains tense and that more work is needed to bridge divisions. (Source: European diplomatic statements)