A referendum on the dismissal of four ethnic Albanian mayors of municipalities in Kosovo was held on 21 April 2024, in the region of North Kosovo with a majority Serb population. The municipalities where the referendum for the replacement of the mayor will be held are: Zubin Potok, Zvečan, Leposavić, and North Mitrovica. For the referendum to succeed, a majority of registered voters must vote for the replacement of the mayor in each municipality.[1] The referendum comes after a petition organized by citizens of municipalities in the north for the removal of 4 mayors in the north.[2][3] It was officially held, having been approved by Kosovo's Central Electoral Commission.[4]
Background
editLocal elections were held in four Serb majority municipalities of Kosovo on 23 April 2023.[5] Due to tensions prior to the organization of local elections, they were boycotted by the Srpska Lista and most of the Serb population.[6] As a result of the boycott, four ethnically Albanian mayors were elected to office.
Results
editThe referendum was boycotted by Serbian voters, while referendum rules require a turnout of 50% or more, ultimately causing it to fail.[7][8] Only 253 out of 46,556 eligible voters in North Kosovo cast their ballots. The largest Serb political party in Kosovo, Serb List, called for boycott of the referendum as it accused it to be undermined by a campaign of pressure and intimidation of local Serbs by the Kosovo government, accusations Pristina denied. The referendum also was not part of an initial deal between Pristina, Belgrade and international mediators aimed at resolving the standoff over governance in north Kosovo. The Serb List said the mayors should have simply resigned before a new election.[7][9]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
 No
|
235 | 92.89 |
| Yes | 18 | 7.11 |
| Total votes | 253 | 100.00 |
| Turnout required | 50.00 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 46,556 | 0.54 |
| Source: ABC Newsyenisafak | ||
References
edit- ^ "Kosovo Central Election Commission to hold referendums in Serb-majority municipalities". www.jurist.org. Retrieved 12 April 2024..
- ^ "First referendum then elections: Four municipalities in north of Kosovo still without mayors". 17 March 2024.
- ^ "Kosovo sets vote on ousting mayors in Serb-majority cities". Malay Mail. 10 March 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ "Kosovo OKs referendums in 4 Serb-majority municipalities on whether to oust ethnic Albanian mayors". Associated Press News. 9 March 2024.
- ^ "Kosovo delays local election in Serbian majority areas – DW – 12/10/2022". dw.com. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Petković: Na izbore na severu Kosova izašlo 3,47 odsto birača – samo 13 Srba". Kosovo Online. 23 April 2023.
- ^ a b "North Kosovo Serbs boycott referendum on removing ethnic Albanian mayors". Reuters. 21 April 2024.
- ^ "Serb majority in N. Kosovo boycotts vote on removing ethnic Albanian mayors". France 24. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Serb-majority municipalities boycott vote to remove Albanian mayors". euronews. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
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