Maliqi: Mayors in the north could have resigned if there was political will

Political analyst Shkelzen Maliqi says to Kosovo Online that the issue of replacing mayors in four municipalities in northern Kosovo could have been resolved "more elegantly" if there was political will, meaning they could have resigned.

"Mayors could have comfortably resigned if political factors were willing, but the process of collecting signatures for dismissal was pursued. Now Albin Kurti is playing the card of laws and independent institutions, but it could have been resolved more elegantly if there was willingness," Maliqi says.

Citizens' referendum on the dismissal of mayors, according to the decision of the Central Election Commission, is scheduled to take place on April 21. The appointment of municipal election commissions and polling boards has been announced, and Maliqi believes that the Serbian side should be represented in the municipal election commissions.

"When there is goodwill to resolve a situation, cooperation between Kosovo's institutions and Serbia's institutions with EU mediation is important, but that's lacking. However, there is a framework, something that was agreed upon last year. If it cannot be voluntarily implemented, then with diplomatic pressures that will likely intensify in these days, we'll see what the outcome will be," Maliqi says.
Regarding whether the election of new mayors should be accompanied by the election of new councilors, he says it would be normal.

"That should be a comprehensive measure, but both Kurti and Belgrade are tightening relations to buy time due to internal problems. If there were real willingness and if they truly respected the Ohrid Agreement, this process could proceed much faster," Maliqi concludes.

The Central Election Commission announced during its session on March 8 that it had verified a sufficient number of signatures (at least 20% of voters) collected by four initiative groups for a petition to remove Albanian mayors in North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavic. According to the Administrative Instruction on the dismissal of mayors, the next step is the citizens' referendum.

Political analyst Alen Meta tells Kosovo Online that interinstitutional cooperation between the CEC, the Kosovo Judicial Council, the prosecution, the Kosovo Police, and the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel will ensure that the process of replacing mayors proceeds in the best possible manner. He expects the citizens' referendum this time to take place in regular polling centers.

Meta sees the reason why last year's elections were held in improvised facilities as pressure from Belgrade and the Serb List not to participate in the elections. However, now, he says, there is an interest in the Serb List returning to power, which is why he believes there is no logic for the citizens' referendum to be held outside of the usual polling centers.