Key Kosovo Municipalities Face Runoffs in Elections

As Kosovo waits for official results from Sunday's local elections, some 17 municipalities already seem set for runoffs, according to preliminary data from local NGO Democracy in Action (DIA), which monitored the process. 

Pristina's residents are observing close competition between the current mayor, Shpend Ahmeti, from nationalist party Vetevendosje -which according DIA won 44.27 per cent of the vote - and Arban Abrashi the candidate from the liberal conservative party Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, which garnered 35.7 per cent.

Other municipalities set for runoffs include Kamenica, Rahovec, Malisheva, Prizren, South Mitrovica, Ferizaj/Urosevac, Istog, Vushtrri/ Vucitrna, Gjakova/Djakovica, Gjilan, Dragash, Kacanik, Klina, Obilic, Shtime, and Suhareka/ Suva Reka.

Vetevendosje, which doubled its share of the vote in national elections this summer, is heading for runoffs in seven municipalities, while LDK, the Kosovo Democratic Party, PDK, and Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK have retained some of their strongholds without the need for a second round.

Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj congratulated "parties and especially citizens for their dignified behavior" on election day. He added that his party, AAK, won three municipalities without runoffs: Junik, Decan, and Obilic. He also said that AAK has taken the lead in Gjakova, and that the party doubled the amount of municipalities it previously held.

Based on preliminary DIA data Bekim Jashari, who is the nephew of late KLA commander Adem Jashari, won Skanderaj, running on an independent ticket. His candidacy was backed by PDK, Initiative for Kosovo, NISMA, and AAK.

As expected, Srpska Lista claimed sweeping victories in several Serb-majority municipalities, such as North...