"Amid political tensions and relations with Serbia"/ American media write about the elections in Kosovo

2025-10-12 17:41:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

"Amid political tensions and relations with Serbia"/ American media

American media outlets have reported today on the development of local elections in Kosovo. This Sunday, well-known media outlets such as 'The Washington Post' and 'Abc' have dedicated articles to this process.

The article highlights details of the circumstances in which these elections are taking place, while mentioning that this political development is taking place at a time when there are ongoing political tensions in the country and tense relations with Serbia.

"Amid political tensions and relations with Serbia"/ American media

The news on 'Abc'

The news in 'The Washington Post'

Article in 'Abc':

Kosovo is holding municipal elections on Sunday, with the ruling left-wing Vetëvendosje Movement, or Vetëvendosje!, seeking to capture the capital's mayor amid ongoing political tensions and strained relations with Serbia.

About 2.1 million registered voters are electing mayors in 38 municipalities and about 1,000 local council members. Preliminary results are expected by midnight, although many municipalities are likely to go to runoffs after about a month, as in previous elections.

The most closely watched race is in the capital, Pristina, where former culture minister Hajrulla Çeku of Vetëvendosje! is challenging incumbent mayor Përparim Rama of the conservative Democratic League of Kosovo.

Vetëvendosje! aims to build on its performance in February's parliamentary elections, when it won 48 seats in the 120-member legislature, still without a governing majority.

Voting in the Serb-majority north is drawing particular attention, where the Serbian List, the dominant Serb party seen as closely aligned with Serbian President Aleksandar Vu?i?, is expected to retain control of most of its strongholds.

The European Union-facilitated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia remains deadlocked. The two neighbors have been at odds since Kosovo declared independence in 2008, a move that Serbia still refuses to recognize.

The local vote comes just two days after Kosovo's Parliament ended an eight-month political deadlock by completing the election of its full leadership, including a representative from the ethnic Serb minority.

On Saturday, incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurti, leader of Vetëvendosje!, was tasked with forming a new cabinet within 15 days - a challenge as the other major parties have so far refused to enter into coalition talks.

Kurti faces pressure to stabilize domestic politics, address economic challenges, and revive EU-brokered normalization talks with Serbia.

Kosovo's independence remains a flashpoint in the Balkans. Some 11,400 people were killed, mostly ethnic Albanians, in the 1998-1999 war that ended after a NATO air campaign drove out Serbian forces. While most Western countries recognize Kosovo's statehood, Serbia, backed by Russia and China, does not.