On Sunday, citizens across 18 municipalities in Kosovo will return to the polls to decide who will lead them for the next four years.
In the first round of the elections held on October 12, twenty municipalities already elected new mayors, while 18 others are headed to the runoff on November 9.
This second round is seen as both a test of party strength at the local level and a barometer for future trends in the national political landscape.
The municipalities holding runoffs are: Prishtina, Prizren, Peja, Junik, Dragash, Gjakova, Kaçanik, Fushë Kosovë, South Mitrovica, Rahovec, Suhareka, Gjilan, Vitia, Vushtrri, Obiliq, Klina, Mamusha, and Kllokot.
Prishtina and Prizren – The Key Battlegrounds
The capital remains the main arena of political confrontation.
For over a decade, Prishtina has symbolized the rivalry between Vetëvendosje (VV) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK).
This time, the runoff pits Përparim Rama of the LDK against Hajrulla Çeku of VV, separated by only 0.5 percent in the first round.
“This isn’t just about the candidates – it goes beyond personalities and is tied to the struggle between parties for dominance in the capital, building their electoral base, and establishing a political stronghold,” said Donika Emini, researcher at the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG).
As Kosovo’s largest municipality, Prishtina carries both economic and political weight, making victory there a strategic advantage for any party.
According to Emini, a win in the capital “translates directly into power and influence at the national level.”
Following Prishtina, the most closely watched race is in Prizren, where Shaqir Totaj of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) faces Artan Abrashi of Vetëvendosje.
Although Prizren is the country’s second-most important municipality, Emini notes that the local alliance between the LDK and PDK, combined with Totaj’s lead in the first round, has led Vetëvendosje to focus its energy elsewhere — in municipalities where it sees greater chances of victory.
South Mitrovica – A Challenge to a Traditional Bastion
Another significant contest, Emini says, is in South Mitrovica, between Faton Peci of Vetëvendosje and Arian Tahiri of PDK.
She views this race as particularly symbolic for both Vetëvendosje and its leader, Albin Kurti:
“Kurti has built his national narrative around the transformation of the situation in North Mitrovica. The selection of one of VV’s strongest candidates, Faton Peci, underlines how much importance this race holds for the party. It directly challenges PDK’s traditional bastion, which is highly significant,” Emini told Radio Free Europe.
The Role of Candidate Profiles
In local elections, individual profiles often prove decisive.
According to Emini, the case of Ramiz Lladrovci in Drenas illustrates this well.
Although the PDK nominated another candidate, Petrit Hajdari, Lladrovci ran as an independent civic candidate and won outright in the first round.
“This clearly shows that the candidate’s profile matters,” said Emini.
She also points to Përparim Rama in Prishtina as another example:
“Rama’s case shows the impact of a new face entering a traditional party like LDK from abroad. Despite expectations, he won – a result driven both by his personal appeal and the party’s support. It’s a combination of factors,” she explained.
A New Political Map on the Horizon?
The results of Sunday’s runoff could significantly reshape Kosovo’s political map.
In many municipalities, margins are narrow, and even minor local alliances could reverse outcomes.
In Prishtina, for instance, the neutral stance or potential endorsement by PDK’s candidate Uran Ismaili may determine the final result.
“Any potential coalition could shift the balance on the ground,” Emini noted.
She adds that Vetëvendosje is strategically expanding its local influence, especially in areas where it previously had limited support.
VV is competing in 12 municipalities in the runoff — leading in two and trailing in ten.
In the 2021 elections, the party won only four municipalities.
“Their focus on South Mitrovica is a clear attempt to shrink PDK’s dominance in one of its traditional strongholds. If VV also wins in Vushtrri, it would further challenge PDK’s territorial control,” Emini emphasized.
Meanwhile, PDK and LDK are concentrating on defending their traditional bastions.
“These parties are playing defense — trying to hold on to their strongholds — while Vetëvendosje is pursuing a more aggressive and strategic campaign, with Prime Minister Albin Kurti personally involved,” Emini added.
Local Elections as a Mirror of National Politics
Historically, Kosovar voters have drawn a line between local and national elections.
However, Emini observes that the link between local voter behavior and national strategy is becoming increasingly evident.
Vetëvendosje appears focused on expanding municipal control, while other parties are struggling to preserve political territory.
“The ongoing cooperation between PDK and LDK illustrates this dynamic well. It reflects a familiar pattern in Kosovar politics — where Vetëvendosje and a few smaller parties face a united front of the old political elite against them, with minor exceptions at the local level,” Emini explained.
Although it remains unclear whether these local alliances will evolve into coalitions at the national level, Emini does not rule out the possibility.
“The PDK-LDK tendency to cooperate in maintaining their positions could also signal potential future collaborations on the national stage,” she said.
Political Polarization and Expectations Ahead
This year’s elections — both local and national — have reinforced the deep polarization of Kosovo’s political scene.
Vetëvendosje continues to frame the contest as “us versus everyone else,” while traditional parties seek to protect their existing ground.
According to Emini, the runoff results will serve as a critical indicator for all parties — helping them understand their current electoral strength and recalibrate strategies for any upcoming national elections.
At the same time, Vetëvendosje is attempting to form a new government, with Glauk Konjufca as the prime minister-designate, while opposition parties are calling for early parliamentary elections.
Thus, Sunday’s runoff carries a dual meaning: local in form, but deeply political in consequence.
