Only Two Weeks Left to Submit Candidate Lists for Kosovo’s October 12 Local Elections

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Political parties in Kosovo have only two weeks left to submit their applications and candidate lists for the upcoming Local Elections scheduled for October 12, 2025. The deadline, which opened on June 26, will close on August 13, confirmed Valmir Elezi, spokesperson for the Central Election Commission (CEC).

“The final deadline for online applications to the CEC for the certification of political entities wishing to participate in the Local Elections is August 13. Within this period, political entities — political parties, coalitions, citizens’ initiatives, and independent candidates — must also submit the list of their candidates for mayors and municipal assembly members,” Elezi stated.

Strict Verification Process for All Candidates

According to the Law on General Elections and the Law on Local Elections, all candidates will undergo a rigorous verification process to ensure they meet the legal requirements for certification.

“Political entities have the full right to decide in which municipalities they will participate and whether they will run only for mayor, only for municipal assembly, or for both simultaneously in any given municipality,” Elezi explained.

The CEC stressed that candidates must meet several strict criteria set out in the laws. Under Article 30 of the Law on General Elections, a person cannot be certified if they:

  • Hold a special status as a public official,
  • Are a member of the diplomatic service,
  • Serve as a chairperson or member of the CEC or a Municipal Election Commission,
  • Are an official of the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP), or
  • Have been legally deprived of the right to run by a court decision.

Additionally, anyone convicted in the last three years by a final court ruling for a criminal offense with one or more years of effective imprisonment cannot be certified as a candidate. Unpaid fines or non-compliance with ECAP or CEC orders also disqualify a candidate.

Candidates for mayor must also meet residency requirements, according to Article 9, paragraph 2 of the Law on Local Elections. They must have lived in the municipality where they are running for at least three years.

Verification with Judicial Institutions

The CEC will coordinate with other institutions to verify whether candidates meet the legal conditions.

“The Kosovo Judicial Council is one of the institutions we will request to verify candidates. Article 30 clearly states that a candidate cannot run if they have been convicted within the last three years. To enforce this, the CEC will formally ask the KJC to check the list of candidates for any legal restrictions,” Elezi added.

The regular local elections on October 12, 2025, will be the eighth time Kosovo elects municipal assemblies and the sixth time mayors are directly elected.

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