The newly elected Serb mayors of the four northern municipalities of Kosovo officially took office on Friday in a calm and orderly ceremony, which—importantly—included the display of Kosovo’s state symbols. The event was widely welcomed by the U.S., German, and U.K. embassies, as well as the EU Office in Prishtina, all of which described it as an important step toward stability and peaceful cooperation in the region.
According to the U.S. Embassy, the peaceful transfer of authority marks a moment that should set the tone for future engagement in the north.
“We welcome this peaceful transition and hope that constructive cooperation will continue,” a spokesperson told Express.
The EU Office in Kosovo echoed this message, calling the transition “a significant step forward toward constructive engagement.” The German Embassy emphasized that the development contributes to reducing tensions in the north, while the British Embassy underlined the importance of sustained communication between municipal authorities, central institutions, and the communities they represent.
The new mayors who took office are:
- Milan Radojević in North Mitrovica
- Zoran Todić in Leposaviq
- Dragiša Milović in Zveçan
- Miloš Perović in Zubin Potok
This new phase of governance comes after a period during which Albanian mayors led these municipalities from May 2023, following the mass resignation of Serb List mayors in November 2022.
The peaceful transition stands in contrast to previous tensions fueled by Belgrade’s political interference in northern Kosovo.
Although Serbia has often attempted to instrumentalize local Serb communities for its own political purposes, yesterday’s ceremony indicates that the international community expects a shift toward genuine local governance and reduced external pressure.
