The October 12 local elections in Kosovo saw 10 women candidates (excluding Serb-majority municipalities) running for mayor across several key cities — Prishtina, Peja, Prizren, Ferizaj, Vushtrri, Deçan, Kamenica, Fushë Kosovë, Drenas, and Kaçanik — highlighting ongoing efforts toward gender inclusion at the local level.
This reflects a broader push to increase women’s political representation in municipal leadership, as these elections presented both new challenges and opportunities for female leaders across Kosovo.
According to preliminary results from the CEC:
- In Prishtina, Besa Shahini (PSD) ranked 5th with 1.55% (1,591 votes).
- In Peja, Arta Nallbani (PDK) ranked 4th with 4.86% (2,005 votes) out of 41,283 voters.
- In Deçan, Natyra Kuçi (PSD) placed 3rd with 11.73% (1,789 votes).
- In Prizren, Emilja Rexhepi (Nova Demokratska Stranka) ranked 6th with 3.63% (2,102 votes).
- In Vushtrri, Xhevahire Izmaku (NISMA) ranked 4th with 2.40% (712 votes).
- In Ferizaj, Xhemile Murati Shabani (AAK) ranked 4th with 1.70% (835 votes).
- In Kamenica, Jona Arifi (PDK) ranked 5th with 4.69% (685 votes).
- In Fushë Kosovë, Vildane Latifi (AAK) ranked 4th with 1.18% (250 votes).
- In Drenas, Egzona Tërdevci (LVV) ranked 3rd with 4.01% (1,008 votes).
- In Kaçanik, Hafize Sallahi (AAK) ranked 6th with 1.37% (220 votes).
According to these results, the most-voted female candidate in the 2025 local elections was Arta Nallbani of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) in Peja.
