Selakovic: Initiating the issue of the Referendum Law is an attempt to postpone elections in the north

Coordinator of the National Convention on the EU, Bojana Selakovic, assesses that the opening of the issue of adopting the Referendum Law amid the process of replacing the mayors in the north is an attempt by Pristina to prolong and postpone local elections. She emphasizes that such a stance should no longer surprise anyone because it wouldn't be the first time they are buying time.

Selakovic points out that it is up to Belgrade to have a prepared response to everything that can happen.

According to her, Pristina, by postponing the election of new mayors, is "buying time" to turn the situation in its favor when the attention of the international community is not focused on Kosovo and Serbia.

"There is a certain consistent approach of Pristina when it comes to the whole dialogue process. This would not be the first time they are buying time to wait for some steps and situations that depend on the current relationship on the geopolitical scene," Selakovic said for Kosovo Online.

She believes that the adoption of the Referendum Law cannot be quickly realized, and therefore the electoral process in the north.

"That certainly cannot happen quickly, no matter what the legal option is, and it will definitely happen in a vacuum where the attention of the international community will not be focused on Kosovo and Serbia. So, we can probably talk about it somewhere in the fall or maybe a little later, and until then, there will be a status quo situation, which has actually proven to be most suitable for the actors leading the dialogue because if there is a status quo, there is some stability," Selakovic warned.

She adds that it should not be forgotten that parliamentary elections are expected in Kosovo in the coming period during the summer, so until then, the trend of using relations between Pristina and Kosovo Serbs for internal purposes is expected to continue.

"However, from the perspective of Serbia, it is very important that all those in Belgrade leading the dialogue process have a prepared agreement for everything that can happen," Selakovic concluded.

Citizens in the municipalities of North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Leposavic, and Zubin Potok have collected signatures as a part of a petition for the removal of mayors elected last April, and now it is waiting for the Central Election Commission to confirm whether the condition is met that the number of these signatures is at least 20 percent of the number of registered voters in these municipalities. If CEC provides such confirmation, the next step would be organizing a vote (referendum) for the removal of mayors within 45 days at the latest. However, interpretations have emerged that before organizing these votes, a Referendum Law would have to be adopted.