Kosovo could initiate new local elections in Serb-majority municipalities if at least 20 percent of eligible voters sign a petition demanding those elections. This approach was outlined in a recent interview with a news agency. Vyosa Osmani, who is described in some outlets as the president of Kosovo, framed the petition as a highly democratic instrument that would empower communities to trigger political change without waiting for other mechanisms.
According to Osmani, such a petition would actively promote Serb participation, since the trigger would originate from the citizens themselves. He suggested that the act of collecting signatures would function as a direct expression of the will of residents in those municipalities, and could effectively lead to the dismissal of mayors who fail to reflect local priorities. He argued that this process would resemble a referendum of sorts and could open the door to re-elections to elect new local leaders. He estimated that implementing the whole process might take several months to complete.
European leaders have weighed in on the matter as well. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz advocated for holding new elections in several parts of Kosovo amid ongoing regional tensions, underscoring the international interest in a clear, legitimate local mandate for leadership in affected areas.
In late May, tensions in Kosovo intensified when Albanians appointed four mayors in the northern part of the territory following a local election held on April 23, an election that was boycotted by the Serbian community. The change in local governance led to protests at city halls and drew additional attention from international organizations. NATO subsequently increased its presence under the KFOR mission by deploying additional personnel to help stabilize the situation during the ensuing period.
Pristina officials reiterated that the appointment of mayors in unrecognized northern Kosovo should not be viewed as a precedent for forcing leadership changes in those areas. The government emphasized that any future reshaping of local authority would proceed through appropriate constitutional and legal channels, with a focus on maintaining stability and respecting the rights of all communities involved.
Foreign Minister Donika Gërvalla-Schwartz stressed that Kosovo remains open to the possibility of holding new local elections in Serb-majority municipalities if the necessary conditions—such as a broad-based petition and due process—are met. She noted that the state would carefully assess public will and legal feasibility before proceeding, aiming to ensure legitimacy and broad-based participation across communities.