After the boycott call: minimal voter turnout in northern Kosovo

Extraordinary local elections were held in the predominantly Serb-populated north of Kosovo on Sunday. The Serbian List, which is controlled from Belgrade and controls politics in the four communities, had called for a boycott. The turnout was therefore only 3.5 percent, the Central Election Commission announced late Sunday evening in the capital Pristina. About 45,000 citizens were eligible to vote.

In the city of North Mitrovica and the three other municipalities, the candidates of the Albanian parties won due to the absence of almost all Serbian voters. The Serbian list justified its boycott on the grounds that the leadership in Kosovo had still not created the conditions for the establishment of a Serbian association of municipalities with extensive executive powers.

The extraordinary local elections had become necessary because all civil servants and civil servants of Serbian nationality had resigned in November last year. Because of the call for a boycott, the Electoral Commission has set up containers to set up polling stations. There were no incidents on election day.

Kosovo was part of Serbia until 1999. In 2008, the country, now almost exclusively inhabited by Albanians, declared its independence. To date, Serbia has not recognized this move and is demanding the return of the area. Belgrade and Pristina are currently renegotiating the settlement of their relations. However, talks have stalled as Serbia refuses to accept the loss of its former southern province. (sda/dpa)