The current situation and circumstances do not allow for free and fair elections in the North

Despite the multiple postponements of the Election Day and the deadlines for the verification of candidacies, political entities, especially those of the Serbian community, did not express their will to participate in the elections.

Moreover, in North Mitrovica and Zubin Potok, where the Serbian community makes up more than 90 percent of the population, there are no registered candidates from the Serbian community.

This situation will definitely undermine the legitimacy of the institutions that will emerge from the elections because it does not guarantee a fair representation of the Serbian community.
In this regard, since the Serb List usually has the support of a large majority of voters in these regions, of course, their decision not to participate in the elections will have multidimensional effects.

Those effects could be a low turnout, but also challenging the legitimacy of the election outcome, and finally technical management of the process.

On the other hand, 10 days before the voting, the Central Electoral Commission has not yet published the final list of polling stations, due to problems with access to public buildings in the north.
This is a clear violation of the law and undermines the credibility of the election, as there will be many problems with voters not knowing where they will be able to exercise their basic right.

Last but not least, in general, the security situation in the four northern municipalities remains fragile, although there is quite significant progress compared to the situation in December 2022.

The resignations of Serbian police officers in those municipalities represent a significant difficulty in guaranteeing security, especially during the election process.

And in accordance with international standards on elections, creating a secure environment is an essential prerequisite to ensure free and fair elections.

By: Eugen Cakolli, Kosovo Democratic Institute