The Central Electoral Commission in Kosovo has approved referendums in four Serb-majority municipalities to be held on April 21. The decision, passed with eight votes in favor and two abstentions, comes after tensions rose between Serbia and Kosovo following the election of ethnic Albanian mayors in these areas last year.
The commission also confirmed a petition held in January, where about one-fourth of eligible voters in the four municipalities in northern Kosovo expressed support for the new vote. This met the requirement of at least 20% of eligible voters to proceed with the referendum.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti accepted the petition as one alternative to meet a constitutional rule for redoing the municipal elections. Following the April 21 vote on whether to oust the four mayors, President Vjosa Osmani is expected to set a date for an early municipal election in the region.
The ethnic Serb minority largely boycotted the April 2023 elections, which were won by ethnic Albanian mayors. Subsequently, clashes erupted as protesters attempted to prevent the mayors from taking office, resulting in injuries on both sides during confrontations with Kosovo police and NATO peacekeepers.
Kosovo, a former province of Serbia, declared independence in 2008, a move not recognized by the Serbian government. The history of conflict between ethnic Serbs and Albanians dates back to the 1998-99 war, during which about 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, lost their lives.
Efforts to negotiate a normalization agreement between Serbia and Kosovo have intensified, with Western powers emphasizing the importance of stability in the Balkans, particularly amidst Russia's conflict in Ukraine. The European Union has made it clear that such an agreement is a prerequisite for Kosovo and Serbia to progress towards joining the bloc.
