Preparations for the February 9 parliamentary elections in Kosovo have extended to the Serb-majority municipalities in the north. On the eve of the elections, the atmosphere in North Mitrovica appeared ordinary. Experts familiar with the developments in the north suggest that the lack of concrete alternatives and political skepticism could result in low voter turnout, marking the first elections since several boycotts by the Serb community.
Preparations for Election Day have also been made in the four municipalities predominantly inhabited by Serbs.
There were numerous movements of citizens from South Mitrovica toward the north on Saturday, the day before the parliamentary elections. Cafes and restaurants along “Car Lazar” Square were filled with many citizens. Several vehicles with members of KFOR remained stationed from both the southern and northern parts of the Ibar Bridge.
Serb citizens refused to comment on their expectations for the upcoming elections. However, on the condition of anonymity, one said, “I’ll speak tomorrow at the voting booth,” while another stated, “There’s no alternative worth voting for.”
Political analyst Branislav Krstić emphasized that there is little enthusiasm for voting in the north, even though these elections come after Serbs boycotted the local elections.
“Among the Serb community, the six parties running in the upcoming elections have not presented any programs; they haven’t offered anything, neither political nor economic plans. The campaign is taking place on social media, and complaints and accusations are circulating, but not to the extent we see in Prishtina,” said Krstić.
He also hinted at the possibility of surprises in voter turnout.
“It seems there’s a sort of collective political depression within the community, and I’m sure we’ll be surprised on Monday when it’s recorded that no more than 30 to 40 percent of Serbs have voted, compared to past elections,” added Krstić.
Six Serb political parties are contesting the February 9 elections. The ten guaranteed seats in the Kosovo Assembly will be targeted by the following: Lista Srpska, Srpski Narodni Pokret, Srpska Demokratija, Srbi Kosova za Slobodu, Pravdu i Opstanak, and Građanska Inicijativa “Narodna Pravda.”
The Technical High School in North Mitrovica will be one of the voting centers on Sunday. A school employee confirmed on Saturday that all preparations had been made, and the election materials had been sent and would be ready for Sunday.
For years, elections in North Mitrovica and other Serb-majority municipalities have been marked by boycotts and skepticism. Calls for Serbs not to vote have come from Belgrade, which, although officially supporting Serb participation in Kosovo’s institutions, has often sent contradictory messages, contributing to citizens’ reluctance to participate. There was an almost complete boycott of local elections in the northern municipalities, followed by a petition for the removal of the Albanian mayors.
A day before the elections, Serbian authorities called for participation in the vote.
According to data from the Central Election Commission, nearly 28,000 citizens in the municipalities of North Mitrovica, Leposaviq, Zveçan, and Zubin Potok are eligible to vote.
