2000 Kosovan local elections

Local elections were held throughout Kosovo on 28 October 2000, organized by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).[1] This was the first local electoral cycle held in Kosovo after the start of the UNMIK mandate in 1999.

The 2000 local elections were held for municipal assemblies under a system of proportional representation. Once the municipal assemblies were constituted, the elected representatives in each jurisdiction selected an assembly president, who was recognized as having the rank of mayor.

The Serb community of Kosovo generally boycotted the vote. Local Serb leaders expressed concern that security conditions had not improved to the point where Serbs could safely return to their homes; Dragiša Milović, acting as a spokesperson for Oliver Ivanović, said that Serbs in northern Kosovo would "[would] not register or take part in the vote until Serbs start returning to Kosovo in bigger numbers."[2] A Council of Europe report indicated that Serb non-participation was the "main drawback of the elections," blaming the situation in part on "pressure brought to bear by Belgrade." The fall of Slobodan Milošević's government, which took place in the middle of the campaign, was described as occurring too late to effect any change in this situation.[3]

Results

Leposavić
Party or Alliance Votes  % Seats
Democratic League of Kosovo - - -
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo - - -

The results in Leposavić, a predominantly Serb community, were not certified due to low turnout. No Serb parties participated in the election.

Mitrovica
Party or Alliance Votes  % Seats
Democratic League of Kosovo 21,785 67.32 29
Democratic Party of Kosovo 7,784 24.05 11
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo 996 3.08 1
Bosniak Party of Democratic Action of Kosovo 235 0.73 -
Party of Democratic Action 175 0.54 -
Albanian Republican Party 175 0.54 -
Republican Party of Kosovo 162 0.50 -
Green Party of Kosovo 137 0.42 -
Liberal Center Party of Kosovo 132 0.41 -
Coalition for Independence 117 0.36 -
Civic Initiative "Independents of Mitrovica" 116 0.36 -
Liberal Party of Kosovo 108 0.33 -
Mitrovica Turkish Community 105 0.32 -
Democratic Ashkali Party of Kosovo 99 0.31 -
Social Democratic Party of Kosovo 94 0.29 -
Albanian National Democratic Movement 74 0.23 -
Social Democratic Union 44 0.14 -
Kosovo Turkish People's Party 24 0.07 -
32,362 100 41

Faruk Spahija of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election.[4]

Skenderaj
Party or Alliance Votes  % Seats
Democratic Party of Kosovo 18,108 84.03 27
Democratic League of Kosovo 2,895 13.43 4
Albanian National Democratic Movement 186 0.86 -
Albanian National Democratic Party 131 0.61 -
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo 99 0.46 -
Democratic National Front Party 67 0.31 -
Social Democratic Party of Kosovo 63 0.29 -
21,549 100 31

Incumbent mayor Ramadan Gashi of the Democratic Party of Kosovo was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[5]

Vushtrri
Party or Alliance Votes  % Seats
Democratic League of Kosovo 16,652 63.94 20
Democratic Party of Kosovo 7,154 27.47 9
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo 1,366 5.25 2
Republican Party of Kosovo 211 0.81 -
Social Democratic Party of Kosovo 182 0.70 -
Coalition for Independence 176 0.68 -
Liberal Party of Kosovo 141 0.54 -
Albanian Republican Party 126 0.48 -
Kosovo Turkish People's Party 34 0.13 -
26,042 100 31

Incumbent mayor Xhemalj Pllani of the Democratic Party of Kosovo remained in office until 2001, when he was replaced by Hajzer Krasniqi of the Democratic League of Kosovo. Krasniqi was required to resign for health reasons in later in the year and was replaced by Muharrem Shabani, also of the Democratic League of Kosovo.[6]

Zubin Potok
Party or Alliance Votes  % Seats
Democratic League of Kosovo - - -

The results in Zubin Potok, a predominantly Serb community, were not certified due to low turnout. No Serb parties participated in the election.

Zvečan
Party or Alliance Votes  % Seats
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo - - -

The results in Zvečan, a predominantly Serb community, were not certified due to low turnout. No Serb parties participated in the election.

Source: [7][8]

Subsequent developments

Following the results, and in light of the Serb boycott, UNMIK leader Bernard Kouchner indicated that he would appoint Serb representatives to councils in predominantly Serb areas.[9] Objections were raised from some community leaders, including the serving mayors of Leposavić, Zubin Potok, Zvečan, and Kosovska Mitrovica (as chosen by the local assemblies elected in the 1996 Serbian local elections).[10] Notwithstanding this, functional local administrations were established by UNMIK in the Serb communities.

Nenad Radosavljević, the leader of the Serbian National Council in Leposavić until his removal in mid-2000, became mayor in that community.[11] He stood down from the role partway through his term. Online sources do not indicate if the position was filled; Nebojša Radulović served as deputy mayor and may have been acting mayor.[12]

In Zubin Potok, Slaviša Ristić of the Democratic Party of Serbia was selected by the assembly as mayor.[13]

Desimir Petković, who had served as mayor of Zvečan prior to the elections, was confirmed for another term in office afterwards.[14]

Nikola Radović, the former mayor of Kosovska Mitrovica in the Serbian system, served as mayor in North Mitrovica for a time.[15] In late 2002, control of the North Mitrovica municipal administration was handed over to UNMIK on a temporary basis.[16]

References
  1. Observations of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, Muncipal [sic elections in Kosovo - 28 October 2000], Council of Europe, 15 December 2000, accessed 4 February 2022.
  2. Robert H. Reid, "Serbs adamant in rejecting UN elections until Serbs allowed to return," Associated Press Newswires, 14 July 2000.
  3. Observations of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, Muncipal [sic elections in Kosovo - 28 October 2000], Council of Europe, 15 December 2000, accessed 4 February 2022.
  4. Remy Ourdan, "Des soldats français « pris en otage entre deux illusions »", Le Monde, 26 November 2000, accessed 4 February 2022.
  5. PeaceWatch, United States Institute of Peace, Vol. VII No. 3 (April 2001), p. 5.
  6. "Vdes Hajzer Krasniqi, ish-kryetari i komunës së Vushtrrisë", Koha Ditore, 24 June 2018, accessed 4 February 2022.
  7. ZGJEDHJET PËR KUVENDE KOMUNALE 2000 – Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Statistikat sipas komunave), Komisioni Qendror i Zgjedhjeve, accessed 4 February 2022.
  8. Fletëvotimet dhe listat e kandidatëve (Leposaviç, Zubin Potok, and Zveçan, Komisioni Qendror i Zgjedhjeve, accessed 4 February 2022.
  9. "Violence and Serb anger overshadow Kosovo poll result," Agence France-Presse, 6 November 2000.
  10. "Kušner najavljuje izbore", Blic, 21 November 2000, accessed 4 February 2022.
  11. "Nebojša Čović sastavlja listu", Glas javnosti, 25 November 2001, accessed 4 February 2022.
  12. "OSOBLJE UNMIK-A NAPUSTILO ZVECAN, ZUBIN POTOK I LEPOSAVIC", B92, 11 April 2002, accessed 4 February 2022.
  13. "Nastavljaju borbu u dve kolone", Glas javnosti, 30 December 2001, accessed 4 February 2022.
  14. PeaceWatch, United States Institute of Peace, Vol. VII No. 3 (April 2001), p. 5.
  15. "Trg u Mitrovici nazvan po braci Milic", B92, 7 July 2002, accessed 4 February 2002.
  16. "Poslanici 'Povratka' ne učestvuju u zasedanju Skupštine", B92, 27 November 2002, accessed 4 February 2022.
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