Preliminary results reveal a competitive political landscape, with no single party dominating following the 12 October vote. Kosovo citizens voted on 12 October to elect mayors and municipal councils across 38 municipalities in a calm and orderly process. The 3 November runoffs will clarify local power dynamics and serve as a critical test of alliances, potentially influencing the nation’s broader political future.
The Central Election Commission (KQZ) recorded a voter turnout of 39.5%, a decline from 43% in 2021, suggesting growing electoral fatigue. With approximately 800,000 of 2.07 million registered voters casting ballots, including 44,000 mail-in votes from abroad, the elections proceeded smoothly despite minor delays in opening polling stations and isolated cases of ballot photographing.
No major incidents disrupted the process, according to Kosovo police, though one unrelated shooting occurred in Komorane. The prosecutor’s office reported two minor election-related cases: one for violating vote secrecy in Bare, South Mitrovica, and another for interfering with voter choice in Klokot, Gjilan region. Both suspects were questioned and released.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti, leader of the Self-Determination Movement (Vetëvendosje), praised voters for their calm and responsible participation, stressing the need to protect the will of the people during ballot counting.
The monitoring organisation Democracy in Action described the elections as largely democratic but noted issues, including unreported voter assistance, particularly for women and youth, last-minute polling station changes that prevented some from voting, and campaign materials near polling sites.
Preliminary results from the KQZ reveal a competitive political landscape, with no single party dominating. Mayors were elected in 21 municipalities in the first round, while 17 others, including Pristina, Prizren, and Gjilan, will head to runoffs on 3 November. In Shtime, Vetëvendosje’s incumbent mayor Kemail Aliu leads with 47.29% against the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) candidate Parparim Ramusa’s 45.15%. In Drenas, independent Ramiz Lladrovci, a former PDK member, holds 48.06% compared to PDK’s Petrit Hajdari at 33.98%.
PDK secured first-round victories in Ferizaj, Skenderaj, and Han i Elezit, with candidates Agim Aliu and Sami Lushtaku claiming strong wins. In Mitrovica, PDK’s Arian Tahiri declared victory, prompting police to block the Ibar River bridge due to celebratory crowds. PDK leader Memli Krasniqi celebrated the results as a triumph for democracy, noting the party’s success in securing the most municipalities without runoffs. Vetëvendosje won in Kamenicë, Podujevë, and Shtime, with candidate Shpetim Bulici calling for celebrations in Podujevë. The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) prevailed in Istog and Lipjan, with Përparim Rama leading in Pristina at 34%, narrowly ahead of Vetëvendosje’s Hajrula Ceku (32%) and Uran Ismaili (29%).
The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), led by Ramush Haradinaj, retained Deçan and Klinë, while the Social Democratic Initiative (NISMA) held Malisheva with Ekrem Kastrati’s strong lead. The Turkish Democratic Party of Kosovo (KDTP) won in Mamushë, and the Serb List dominated nine Serb-majority municipalities, including Leposaviq, Zubin-Potok, and North Mitrovica, with a runoff pending in Kllokot against Serbian National Unity’s Srećko Spasić.
Analysts view Pristina as the election’s key battleground. Artan Muhaxhiri noted Vetëvendosje’s weaker performance, describing it as a “relative defeat” that challenges its national dominance. Besar Gërgi from the Group for Legal and Political Studies echoed this, pointing to a decline in Vetëvendosje’s support in the capital. Both analysts predict the runoffs will test party alliances, with local dynamics often diverging from national politics, potentially influencing future parliamentary elections. Muhaxhiri suggested Vetëvendosje must seek new alliances, while LDK needs strategic partnerships to retain Pristina. PDK, by contrast, appears stable in its strongholds.
Tensions in relations between Pristina and the Serbian community
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Kosovo expressed “deep disappointment” over the Central Election Commission’s rejection of accreditation for all Serbian-language media outlets, including Tanjug, RTS, and Kosovo Online. The OSCE criticized the decision as a violation of press freedom, arguing it undermines transparent elections by restricting journalists based on linguistic or ethnic identity. The KQZ cited doubts about the authenticity of submitted documentation, a move that has heightened tensions with Kosovo’s Serbian community in northern Kosovo ahead of the runoffs.