Kosovo PM urges voters to participate in elections boycotted by Serbs' main party

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti speaks to reporters about local elections. April 20, 2023
Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti speaks to reporters about local elections. April 20, 2023   -  Copyright  Virginia Mayo/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved
By Euronews

With the Serb List party boycotting local elections on Sunday, Kosovo's Prime Minister is warning a power vacuum will be created.

Kosovo’s Prime Minister has warned of a dangerous political vacuum as the country’s main Serb party plans to boycott local elections on Sunday.

“It is impossible to further tolerate [the] postponement of the elections, since December 10 last year. We cannot tolerate a vacuum in the institutions," Albin Kurti said.

Election law in Kosovo does not stipulate a minimum turnout, but the Serb List party has questioned the legitimacy of any government institutions elected by a handful of voters.

Euronews
Voters expected to stay away from polling stations in Kosovo. April 20, 2023Euronews

Elections were initially scheduled to take place in December last year but were subsequently postponed in four areas.

The delayed polls are taking place in the municipalities of Leposavic, North Mitrovica, Zubin Potok and Zvecan.

There have been long-running tensions between the Kosovans and the Serbs, with NATO providing a peace support mission (KFOR) since June 1999.

Euronews
A voter in Kosovo says she plans to boycott Sunday's election, April 20, 2023Euronews

A street poll conducted by Euronews Serbia backs up the assertion that many people will boycott the election.

For more watch Euronews' report in the video above.

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