Rohde: It is regrettable that the Serb List has decided not to participate in the voting, pressure on the citizens in the north

The German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jörn Rohde, expressed regret over the Serb List's decision not to participate in the recall vote of the mayors in four municipalities in the north of Kosovo, stating his concern about this decision as well.

"It's sad that the Serb List won't participate in the voting on April 21. I must say that I am concerned that the Serb List has once again decided not to participate in the voting. Here is a clear case where pressure is again being applied to citizens in the north not to participate in democratic processes," Rohde explained in a written response to Kosovo Online.

He further commented that the policy of the Serb List in the last 18 months could be summarized in two words: "boycott and resignation."

"This is a damaging disservice to all citizens of the northern municipalities and another own goal by the Serb List. It certainly doesn't help to ensure that we have mayors in the north who fully represent the electorate they serve," Rohde stated.

When asked by Kosovo online whether the Quint (the group of countries including the US, UK, France, Germany, and Italy) had promised Belgrade to influence Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti to have mayors submit their resignations after a petition with 20 percent of votes was collected, the German embassy declined to comment.

"As for your second question, we will not comment," was the response from the German ambassador to Kosovo online.

The US Embassy in Pristina also responded to Kosovo Online's question about whether the Quint had promised to exert pressure on Kurti for the mayors to submit their resignations if 20 percent of votes were collected through petitions.

"We regret the statement by the Serb List that they will withdraw from participating in the vote to remove the mayors in the north," the embassy stated in a written response to the portal.

They emphasized their appreciation for "the efforts of Kosovo's electoral officials to enable all citizens of Kosovo to participate in this democratic process" and added that all citizens registered in the north of Kosovo have the opportunity to participate.