Citizens in the north on the first hundred days of the new mayors: There has been some progress, but problems remain

Citizens of North Mitrovica and Leposavic told Kosovo Online that the first hundred days since the Serbian mayors took office have brought certain improvements, but that numerous problems persist, particularly in the areas of infrastructure and water supply.

Nikola Vitorovic from North Mitrovica says that change had been long awaited and that the situation had been difficult, but that he has confidence in the current leadership.

“We waited a long time for a change of government. You know that we withdrew from the institutions and were left without our people, so it was hard for us. We endured various pressures from Kurti’s authorities. Now our mayor has come and they have started working. As far as I know, they got off to an exceptionally good start. I know they are facing severe pressure and obstruction in their work, and I hope that, with the help of the European Union, they will continue working and implement the plans they have set. So I expect things to keep getting better. Our people are extraordinary—today they think one way, tomorrow another. Our mayors need time to prove themselves. I have great confidence that they will fulfill their task and put everything in order,” he said.

Zoran Kuzmanovic, also from North Mitrovica, emphasizes that the key issues concern citizens’ everyday lives, especially young people.

“For young people to be able to live and work, for us to live normally like everyone else—that is the most important thing. Without that, there is no future for us here,” says Kuzmanovic.

Dragoljub Perunicic from Leposavic highlights water supply as the biggest problem, along with youth outmigration.

“The biggest problem in summer is water. Sometimes there is none, sometimes the pressure is low. If nothing changes, only us older people will remain, because young people do not have the conditions to stay and plan their future here,” Perunicic warns.

Budo Batacanin from Leposavic stresses that, in addition to utilities services, citizens also need better healthcare services.

“Water is the biggest problem. During the summer there is no water. And the health center—if they could improve that, so that citizens have access to specialists and doctors—that would be very good. For everything we have to go to Mitrovica, and there are crowds and inconvenience,” Batacanin pointed out.

Dejan Milic assesses that there has been no significant progress so far, but expects improvements in the coming period.

“Honestly, I haven’t noticed any major improvement, especially when it comes to infrastructure. I hope work will be done on that and that cultural and sports life will be revived, because we really lack that. We see the situation both here and globally, so it’s not easy. I haven’t noticed any particular progress, but I hope that during the mandate there will be improvements, primarily in infrastructure as well as in cultural and sports life. Those are my expectations. We will see what happens—the situation is uncertain, so I’m not very optimistic. On behalf of the citizens, I can say they should make more effort to provide a richer cultural and sports life and invest more in infrastructure,” said Milic.

A fellow citizen also believes that, regardless of the circumstances, everyday life has not changed.

“In essence, nothing has changed for us citizens; everything is the same—daily life has remained as it was before,” she said.

Some believe that previous local authorities also operated under limited conditions.

“I think the previous mayors did as much as they could, because they depend on funding from Pristina,” said one of the citizens.