Kosovo Goes to Polls in Mayoral Run-off

Of 36 municipalities, 21 will be voting on Sunday to decide who will become mayor, after the results of the November 15 election failed to throw up an outright winner in these areas.

These are the first elections to be held in Kosovo since it declared independence in February 2008.

Candidates needed more than 50 per cent of votes to win the first round outright.

The Central Election Commission said it was ready for Sunday, and had transferred all voting material to the respective polling centers. Police also confirmed on Friday to be ready to protect the votes and ballot boxes with some 4,000 officers.

Kosovo’s president Fatmir Sejdiu said that the elections on November 15 had strengthened Kosovo’s international image. He added: “Therefore, as the president of the country, I call on you to go to the polling stations on Sunday and determine with your vote who will govern your municipality for the next four years.”

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, addressing the nation on television, invited people to vote on December 13 and to express their commitment to free elections. “Everyone should contribute to a quiet, fair and democratic election process that expresses their free will,” said the premier on Kosovo’s publicly funded station, Radio Television of Kosovo.

Close races are expected in Prizren and Suhareke, and competition is likely to be fierce in Gjilan, Mitrovica and Vushtrri.

There are only two municipalities, Strpce and Novobrdo, where Serb parties, the Serbian Liberal Party, SLS, and SNSD respectively are in competition.

Polls open at 7am and close at 7pm.