The upcoming local elections on 12 October in Kosovo are expected to reshape the political landscape in the four Serb-majority municipalities in the north — North Mitrovica, Zveçan, Leposaviq, and Zubin Potok — amid the anticipated participation of the Serb List, a party backed by Belgrade.
The current ethnic Albanian mayors of these municipalities, who came to power after Serb representatives resigned in 2022, have warned that any new leaders must abide by Kosovo’s laws — or face consequences for violating them.
End of Albanian-Led Local Government
The elections are likely to mark the end of Albanian-led administrations in these northern municipalities. Political analysts warn that the return of the Serb List could undermine progress made in extending Kosovo’s sovereignty to these Serb-dominated areas.
Some local officials have called for the government to take firm action if the law is breached.
Local Leaders Issue Warnings
Ilir Peci, mayor of Zveçan, says he has no problem with Serbs regaining control of local government — but insists that key decisions made under his administration cannot easily be undone.
“All municipal regulations must go through the Ministry of Local Government for approval. If the ministry doesn’t approve them, and if they try to remove the seal or reverse procedures, then the state must act and not allow them to do things the way they did before,” Peci said.
His appointment in May 2023 was accompanied by tensions and protests by local Serbs. However, he does not expect similar unrest after the upcoming vote.
“I’m very optimistic. I don’t believe that will happen, as everything in the north is under police control for now. But in the north, you never know,” he added.
Any Illegal Moves Will Have Consequences
In Zubin Potok, mayor Izmir Beqiri echoed similar warnings, saying any attempt to remove Kosovo’s flag or the president’s portrait from municipal offices would be illegal and must be punished.
“If someone tries to remove the flag or the president’s photo, it’s a clear violation — an act of usurpation that cannot be tolerated. If they don’t respect the legal rules, there must be consequences. In my view, the authorities have been too lenient for too long,” he said.
Beqiri also pointed to the influence of organized criminal groups like Milan Radoičić’s network, which he claims have used threats and intimidation to maintain power over local Serbs.
“They know very well what trouble they’ve caused. They should not be allowed to act like they own the law here anymore,” he said.
Analyst: Serious Security Risks Ahead
Unlike the local leaders, political analyst Dritëro Arifi sees greater cause for concern. He argues that the lack of fully functional institutions could worsen security in the north after the elections.
“It will be a multi-dimensional provocation — neglecting laws and Kosovo’s Constitution. Even if local leaders don’t remove state symbols themselves, someone else might,” Arifi said.
He stressed the need for the central government to prepare thoroughly for potential tensions — and to coordinate closely with international partners.
“We must be very careful not to turn the Serbs into victims, because we could lose the political battle that way. International actors tend to defend whoever they see as victims — in this case, the Serb community. So we must clearly explain to local Serbs that provoking the institutions can bring consequences for everyone,” Arifi said.
No Response from Key Officials
North Mitrovica’s mayor, Erden Atiq, and Leposavić’s mayor, Lulzim Hetemi, both from the ruling Vetëvendosje Movement, did not respond to Koha’s questions about their expectations for the post-election situation.
The Kosovo government also did not provide a response by the time of publication.
The current Albanian mayors came to power after Serb officials resigned en masse in November 2022, triggering local elections in April 2023.
