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

Mitrovica District

Leposavić

PartySeats
Democratic League of Kosovo–
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo–
Total–
Source: [4][5]

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

Mitrovica

PartyVotes%Seats
Democratic League of Kosovo21,78567.3229
Democratic Party of Kosovo7,78424.0511
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo9963.081
Bosniak Party of Democratic Action of Kosovo2350.73–
Party of Democratic Action1750.54–
Albanian Republican Party1750.54–
Republican Party of Kosovo1620.50–
Green Party of Kosovo1370.42–
Liberal Center Party of Kosovo1320.41–
Coalition for Independence1170.36–
Civic Initiative "Independents of Mitrovica"1160.36–
Liberal Party of Kosovo1080.33–
Mitrovica Turkish Community1050.32–
Democratic Ashkali Party of Kosovo990.31–
Social Democratic Party of Kosovo940.29–
Albanian National Democratic Movement740.23–
Social Democratic Union440.14–
Kosovo Turkish People's Party240.07–
Total32,362100.0041
Source: [6]

Faruk Spahija of the Democratic League of Kosovo was chosen as mayor after the election.[7]

Skenderaj

PartyVotes%Seats
Democratic Party of Kosovo18,10884.0327
Democratic League of Kosovo2,89513.434
Albanian National Democratic Movement1860.86–
Albanian National Democratic Party1310.61–
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo990.46–
Democratic National Front Party670.31–
Social Democratic Party of Kosovo630.29–
Total21,549100.0031
Source: [8]

Incumbent mayor Ramadan Gashi of the Democratic Party of Kosovo was confirmed for another term in office after the election.[9]

Vushtrri

PartyVotes%Seats
Democratic League of Kosovo16,65263.9420
Democratic Party of Kosovo7,15427.479
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo1,3665.252
Republican Party of Kosovo2110.81–
Social Democratic Party of Kosovo1820.70–
Coalition for Independence1760.68–
Liberal Party of Kosovo1410.54–
Albanian Republican Party1260.48–
Kosovo Turkish People's Party340.13–
Total26,042100.0031
Source: [10]

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.[11]

Zubin Potok

PartySeats
Democratic League of Kosovo–
Total–
Source: [12][13]

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

Zvečan

PartySeats
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo–
Total–
Source: [14][15]

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

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 councils in the predominantly Serb areas.[16] Objections were raised by some community leaders, including the serving mayors of Leposavić, Zubin Potok, Zvečan, and Kosovska Mitrovica (as chosen by the assemblies elected in the 1996 Serbian local elections).[17] Notwithstanding this, UNMIK was ultimately able to establish functional local governments 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.[18] He stood down partway through his term. Online sources do not indicate if anyone was appointed as his replacement before the 2002 local elections; Nebojša Radulović served as deputy mayor and may also have been acting mayor.[19]

In Zubin Potok, Slaviša Ristić of the Democratic Party of Serbia was selected by the local assembly as mayor.[20]

Desimir Petković, who had served as mayor of Zvečan prior to the 2000 elections, was confirmed for another term in office afterwards.[21]

Nikola Radović, the former mayor of Kosovska Mitrovica in the Serbian system, became mayor in the predominantly Serb northern part of the city for a time.[22] In late 2002, control of the northern Kosovska Mitrovica municipal administration was handed over to UNMIK on a provisional basis.[23]

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 – Fletëvotimet dhe listat e kandidatëve (Leposaviç – Lista e kandidatëve), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 18 January 2022.
  5. ↑ Zgjedhjet për Kuvende Komunale 2000 – Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Rezultatet e subjekteve sipas komunave), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 22 January 2022.
  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. ↑ Remy Ourdan, "Des soldats français « pris en otage entre deux illusions »", Le Monde, 26 November 2000, accessed 4 February 2022.
  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. ↑ PeaceWatch, United States Institute of Peace, Vol. VII No. 3 (April 2001), p. 5.
  10. ↑ Zgjedhjet për Kuvende Komunale 2000 – Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Rezultatet e subjekteve sipas komunave), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 22 January 2022.
  11. ↑ "Vdes Hajzer Krasniqi, ish-kryetari i komunës së Vushtrrisë", Koha Ditore, 24 June 2018, accessed 4 February 2022.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ Zgjedhjet për Kuvende Komunale 2000 – Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Rezultatet e subjekteve sipas komunave), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 22 January 2022.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ Zgjedhjet për Kuvende Komunale 2000 – Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Rezultatet e subjekteve sipas komunave), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 22 January 2022.
  16. ↑ "Violence and Serb anger overshadow Kosovo poll result," Agence France-Presse, 6 November 2000.
  17. ↑ "Kušner najavljuje izbore", Blic, 21 November 2000, accessed 4 February 2022.
  18. ↑ "Nebojša Čović sastavlja listu", Glas javnosti, 25 November 2001, accessed 4 February 2022.
  19. ↑ "OSOBLJE UNMIK-A NAPUSTILO ZVECAN, ZUBIN POTOK I LEPOSAVIC", B92, 11 April 2002, accessed 4 February 2022.
  20. ↑ "Nastavljaju borbu u dve kolone", Glas javnosti, 30 December 2001, accessed 4 February 2022.
  21. ↑ PeaceWatch, United States Institute of Peace, Vol. VII No. 3 (April 2001), p. 5.
  22. ↑ "Trg u Mitrovici nazvan po braci Milic", B92, 7 July 2002, accessed 4 February 2002.
  23. ↑ "Poslanici 'Povratka' ne učestvuju u zasedanju Skupštine", B92, 27 November 2002, accessed 4 February 2022.
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