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.

In each municipality, elections were held for municipal assemblies under a system of proportional representation. The elected representatives in each jurisdiction were responsible for choosing an assembly president, who held 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

Gjakova District

Gjakova

Party		Votes	%	Seats
	Democratic League of Kosovo	24,928	59.66	26
	Alliance for the Future of Kosovo	7,031	16.83	7
	Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo	3,938	9.42	4
	Democratic Party of Kosovo	3,010	7.20	3
	Liberal Party of Kosovo	856	2.05	1
	Liberal Center Party of Kosovo	444	1.06	–
	Liberal Democratic Party of Kosovo	267	0.64	–
	Green Party of Kosovo	264	0.63	–
	Bislim Hoti	206	0.49	–
	Bosniak Party of Democratic Action of Kosovo	187	0.45	–
	National-Democratic Front Party of Kosovo	158	0.38	–
	Social Democratic Party of Kosovo	154	0.37	–
	Hasan Sadriu	103	0.25	–
	Avdullah Qafani	99	0.24	–
	Skender Korenica	52	0.12	–
	Coalition for Independence	47	0.11	–
	Social Democratic Union	42	0.10	–
Total		41,786	100.00	41
Source: [4]

Aqif Shehu of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election. ^[5]

Deçan

Party		Votes	%	Seats
	Democratic League of Kosovo	10,136	60.44	19
	Alliance for the Future of Kosovo	5,552	33.11	10
	Democratic Party of Kosovo	881	5.25	2
	Republican Party of Kosovo	135	0.81	–
	Coalition for Independence	66	0.39	–
Total		16,770	100.00	31
Source: [6]

Mehmet Bojkaj of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election. ^[7]

Rahovec

Party		Votes	%	Seats
	Democratic League of Kosovo	14,884	61.33	20
	Democratic Party of Kosovo	4,908	20.22	6
	Alliance for the Future of Kosovo	3,680	15.16	5
	Liberal Center Party of Kosovo	337	1.39	–
	Albanian National Democratic Party	144	0.59	–
	Liberal Party of Kosovo	140	0.58	–
	Social Democratic Party of Kosovo	126	0.52	–
	Coalition for Independence	49	0.20	–
Total		24,268	100.00	31
Source: [8]

Esad Haxhijaha of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election. ^[9]

Mitrovica District

Leposavić

Party		Seats
	Democratic League of Kosovo	–
	Alliance for the Future of Kosovo	–
Total		–
Source: [10] [11]

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

Mitrovica

Party		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	–
Total		32,362	100.00	41
Source: [12]

Faruk Spahija of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election. ^[13]

Skenderaj

Party		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	–
Total		21,549	100.00	31
Source: [14]

Ramadan Gashi of the Democratic Party of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election. ^{[15] [16]}

Vushtrri

Party		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	–
Total		26,042	100.00	31
Source: [17]

Hajzer Krasniqi of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election. 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. ^[18]

Zubin Potok

Party		Seats
	Democratic League of Kosovo	–
Total		–
Source: [19] [20]

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		Seats
	Alliance for the Future of Kosovo	–
Total		–
Source: [21] [22]

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

Peja District

Peja

Party		Votes	%	Seats
	Democratic League of Kosovo	28,352	65.13	28
	Alliance for the Future of Kosovo	7,729	17.75	8
	Democratic Party of Kosovo	4,475	10.28	4
	Party of Democratic Action	1,239	2.85	1
	Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo	427	0.98	–
	Bosniak Party of Democratic Action of Kosovo	286	0.66	–
	Liberal Party of Kosovo	157	0.36	–
	Liberal Democratic Party of Kosovo	153	0.35	–
	National-Democratic Front Party of Kosovo	146	0.34	–
	Republican Party of Kosovo	137	0.31	–
	Green Party of Kosovo	112	0.26	–
	Albanian National Democratic Party	93	0.21	–
	Liberal Center Party of Kosovo	88	0.20	–
	Social Democratic Party of Kosovo	70	0.16	–
	Social Democratic Union	47	0.11	–
	Coalition for Independence	21	0.05	–
Total		43,532	100.00	41
Source: [23]

Ali Lajçi of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election. UNMIK leader Bernard Kouchner appointed Božidar Krstić to the municipal assembly as a representative of Peja's Serb community. ^[24]

Istog

Party		Votes	%	Seats
	Democratic League of Kosovo	12,721	70.46	22
	Democratic Party of Kosovo	2,931	16.23	5
	Alliance for the Future of Kosovo	1,630	9.03	3
	Party of Democratic Action	453	2.51	1
	Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo	236	1.31	–
	Liberal Party of Kosovo	83	0.46	–
Total		18,054	100.00	31
Source: [25]

Fadil Ferati of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election. ^[26]

Klina

Party		Votes	%	Seats
	Democratic League of Kosovo	8,334	52.03	17
	Democratic Party of Kosovo	5,112	31.92	10
	Alliance for the Future of Kosovo	1,186	7.40	2
	Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo	954	5.96	2
	Liberal Party of Kosovo	243	1.52	–
	Liberal Center Party of Kosovo	115	0.72	–
	Coalition for Independence	73	0.46	–
Total		16,017	100.00	31
Source: [27]

Ismet Rraci of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election. He was assassinated by unknown parties in April 2001. Ramë Manaj, also of the Democratic League of Kosovo, was chosen as his successor. ^{[28] [29]}

Subsequent developments

Following the results, and in light of the Serb boycott, UNMIK leader Bernard Kouchner said that he would appoint Serb representatives to municipal assemblies in the predominantly Serb areas. ^[30] Objections were raised by some community leaders, including the serving mayors of Leposavić, Zubin Potok, Zvečan, and Kosovska Mitrovica (as chosen by municipal assemblies elected in the 1996 Serbian local elections). ^[31] Notwithstanding this, UNMIK was able to establish functional local assemblies in Leposavić, Zubin Potok, and Zvečan, which in turn selected new mayors in their communities. ^[32]

Nenad Radosavljević, who had previously led the Serbian National Council in Leposavić, became mayor in that community. ^[33] He stood down from the role later in 2001. ^[34] Online sources do not indicate if anyone was formally appointed as his successor prior to the 2002 local elections; Nebojša Radulović served as deputy mayor and may also have been acting mayor. ^[35]

In Zubin Potok, Slaviša Ristić of the Democratic Party of Serbia was selected by the local assembly as mayor. ^[36]

Desimir Petković, who had served as mayor of Zvečan prior to the 2000 elections, was confirmed for another term in office afterwards. ^[37]

The situation in northern Kosovska Mitrovica was different, as it was not recognized by UNMIK as a separate municipality. The Serbian government continued to recognize the pre-war municipal administration led by Nikola Radović until 2002, although its authority was for a time eclipsed by the local Serbian National Council led by Oliver Ivanović. ^[38] Ivanović left the SNV in 2001, at which time its influence in civil government declined.

In November 2002, the Serbian government agreed to give UNMIK direct control over the municipal government of northern Kosovska Mitrovica on a provisional basis. ^{[39] [40]} Radović gave his support to the initiative. ^[41] The board held its first meeting on 30 May 2003. ^[42]

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. Zgjedhjet për Kuvende Komunale 2000 – Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Rezultatet e subjekteve sipas komunave), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 22 January 2022.
5. Gjakova – Raporit komunal, Instituti për Studime të Avancuara GAP, November 2009, accessed 21 March 2024.
6. Zgjedhjet për Kuvende Komunale 2000 – Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Rezultatet e subjekteve sipas komunave), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 22 January 2022.
7. Deçani – Raporti komunal, Instituti për Studime të Avancuara GAP, November 2009, accessed 19 March 2024.
8. Zgjedhjet për Kuvende Komunale 2000 – Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Rezultatet e subjekteve sipas komunave), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 22 January 2022.
9. "Kush ishte ish-kryetari i Rahovecit Esad Haxhijaha", Syri, 21 January 2020, accessed 20 March 2024.
10. Zgjedhjet për Kuvende Komunale 2000 – Fletëvotimet dhe listat e kandidatëve (Leposaviç – Lista e kandidatëve), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 18 January 2022.
11. Zgjedhjet për Kuvende Komunale 2000 – Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Rezultatet e subjekteve sipas komunave), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 22 January 2022.
12. Zgjedhjet për Kuvende Komunale 2000 – Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Rezultatet e subjekteve sipas komunave), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 22 January 2022.
13. Remy Ourdan, "Des soldats français « pris en otage entre deux illusions »", Le Monde, 26 November 2000, accessed 4 February 2022.
14. Zgjedhjet për Kuvende Komunale 2000 – Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Rezultatet e subjekteve sipas komunave), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 22 January 2022.
15. PeaceWatch, United States Institute of Peace, Vol. VII No. 3 (April 2001), p. 5.
16. Welcome to the Municipality of Skenderaj, Republic of Kosovo, 2012, p. 18, accessed 24 March 2024.
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18. "Vdes Hajzer Krasniqi, ish-kryetari i komunës së Vushtrrisë", Koha Ditore, 24 June 2018, accessed 4 February 2022.
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20. Zgjedhjet për Kuvende Komunale 2000 – Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Rezultatet e subjekteve sipas komunave), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 22 January 2022.
21. Zgjedhjet për Kuvende Komunale 2000 – Fletëvotimet dhe listat e kandidatëve (Zubin Potok – Lista e kandidatëve), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 12 January 2022.
22. Zgjedhjet për Kuvende Komunale 2000 – Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Rezultatet e subjekteve sipas komunave), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 22 January 2022.
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24. "Serb councillor in Pec takes oath in front of Albanian, UN flags," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European – Political, 29 January 2001 (Source: Kosovapress news agency web site, Pristina, in Albanian 25 Jan 01.).
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27. Zgjedhjet për Kuvende Komunale 2000 – Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Rezultatet e subjekteve sipas komunave), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 22 January 2022.
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31. "Kušner najavljuje izbore", Blic, 21 November 2000, accessed 4 February 2022.
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39. "Serbian deputy PM says UN administration of Mitrovica agreed with Belgrade," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 26 November 2002 (Source: Tanjug news agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 1220 gmt 26 Nov 02).
40. "Serbia's Covic announces forming of northern Mitrovica council," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 17 December 2002 (Source: Beta news agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 1236 gmt 17 Dec 02).
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