FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Today there is a vote for the dismissal of the Albanian mayors in the four municipalities inhabited by Serbian majority in the north of Kosovo, which would pave the way for new elections.
While the Serbian List calls for their boycott, the vote is not expected to succeed.
Currently North Mitrovica, Zubin Potoku, Leposavic and Zvecani are led by Albanian mayors who emerged from the elections of April 23 last year, which were boycotted by Serbian political parties.
The sending of the mayors to their offices at the end of May last year was strongly opposed by groups of Serbian citizens who clashed with the Kosovo police and NATO forces, injuring over 90 members of KFOR.
The government of Kosovo, which faced punitive measures from the European Union due to tensions in the north, agreed to organize new elections, through a vote for the dismissal of the current presidents.
In January, Serbian citizens in the northern municipalities signed a petition for the dismissal of the mayors, and after that the Central Election Commission announced the day of voting for dismissal.
The Serbian List founded and supported by Belgrade announced on April 7 that it will not participate in the voting, accusing Prime Minister Albin Kurti of making continuous efforts to make this vote fail. The list said that one of the reasons for non-participation is the inflation of the voter list, but without providing any evidence for this claim.
The decision provoked the reaction of the United States and the European Union, who asked this party to reconsider the decision, while the government of Kosovo should sensitively handle the concerns raised by the citizens in the north of the country.
Authorities in Pristina accused Belgrade of pressure on Kosovo Serbs.
Despite the situation, the Central Election Commission decided to continue the process by opening 23 polling stations. According to the instructions, citizens can answer with "Yes" or "No" to the question of whether they agree that the mayor of the municipality should be dismissed.
It is currently unclear what will happen if the referendum requiring 50 percent plus one of voters fails, as one cannot be held before 12 months have passed.
Lini një Përgjigje