UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 13, 2025

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti: Last day for presenting new government is October 26 (media)
Kurti: Exit poll reports for Mitrovica must be investigated (Koha)
Kusari on Kurti's statements: Stay away from exit poll investigations (Nacionale)
Abdixhiku: LDK leads with over 180,000 votes for municipal assemblies (media)
Cakolli from KDI summarizes results of local elections so far (EO)
Albanian Alliance is second in Gracanica; “we’ll have stronger voice” (Telegrafi)
“Serbian List admits Serbia’s interference in Kosovo elections” (EO)
Nenad Vukmirovic appointed acting Minister of Communities and Returns (media)
Osmani: Honored to be invited to NATO Parliamentary Assembly (media)
Von der Leyen to visit Kosovo on Wednesday (AP)

Serbian Language Media:

Serbian officials congratulated the Serbian List on victory in nine municipalities in Kosovo (RTS, media)
Mayors elected in 21 municipalities, 17 going to the second round of elections (KiM radio)
Stojanovic and Veljkovic announced retirement after local elections held on Sunday (KiM radio, Alternativna, Kontakt Plus radio, KoSSev)
Arsenijevic on elections results: One municipal councilor seat in Zvecan and Mitrovica North each, two in Leposavic (Radio KIM)
Igor Rasic: I am not satisfied with results of elections (Radio KIM)
Student protesters urge public to back farmers’ protests (N1)

Opinion:

The challenge of the Serbian List’s return to local government in the north (Koha)

International:

Kosovo local elections head to runoffs in most municipalities: early results (PI)
Kosovo’s main municipalities face runoffs after close-run local elections (Balkan Insight)
Kosovo spy agency’s undocumented ‘special ops’ spending: Probe halted (Balkan Insight)
With proposed law change, Serbia risks even greater leniency for rapists (Balkan Insight)
IPI joins 9 organizations calling on Ursula von der Leyen to address media freedom in WB (International Press Institute)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti: Last day for presenting new government is October 26 (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister and leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, Albin Kurti, told a press conference today that the last day for presenting a new government at the Kosovo Assembly is October 26. “These days we are maximally focused on a comprehensive analysis of the local elections. Very soon, this week, we will start talks for the central government, because Kosovo needs another mandate of our government. We need a new mandate in line with the result. As Prime Minister I have entered the seventh month of the fifth year. We need a regular mandate, which will undoubtedly begin as soon as we present the composition of the Kurti 3 government at the Assembly … The moment we consider that the talks [for the formation of the new government] have resulted successfully, we will not wait for October 3. We are getting ready for the Kurti 3 government, and if there is no Kurti 3, then we are ready for new parliamentary elections,” he said.

Kurti did not talk about potential coalitions but said that there will be talks. “The communication and talks we will have will determine the composition of the new majority that will vote for the Kurti 3 government,” he said.

Kurti: Exit poll reports for Mitrovica must be investigated (Koha)

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister and leader of the Vetevendosje Movement Albin Kurti called for investigation of Sunday’s reports regarding the results of the elections in the municipality of South Mitrovica, saying that they were not simple mistakes but flagrant interference in the electoral process. “What happened on October 12 regarding the reports about Mitrovica must be investigated and examined. This is not just an error, but premeditated engineering, a flagrant interference in the electoral process. The exit polls presented with a 16-percentage-point discrepancy or more, from multiple organizations for the same municipality, and the posting of false news about the winner before the polling stations even closed, are not simple mistakes, they are an attack on democracy, on free elections, and on the integrity and security of our state. I call on the security and justice institutions to deal with this issue,” Kurti said.

He also said that Vetevendosje will analyze election results before planning future steps and noted that with diaspora votes, the party might win Gjilan without a runoff. Overall, he highlighted that Vetevendosje remains the leading force in Kosovo.

Kusari on Kurti's statements: Stay away from exit poll investigations (Nacionale)

Media lawyer Flutura Kusari criticized the call of Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti to investigate the exit poll reports in Mitrovica, saying that his statements are inaccurate and dangerous. According to her, the electoral process had already concluded when exit polls were published, so there was no interference in the voting process.

Kusari urged law enforcement and the Independent Media Commission (IMC) to stay completely away from any investigation of exit poll companies or media reports. She argued that while the exit polls may have been wrong, accountability should come through loss of credibility, not criminal investigation.

She further accused Kurti and Vetevendosje of having a “frightening mindset” of using criminal law to punish criticism but added that such efforts would ultimately fail.

Abdixhiku: LDK leads with over 180,000 votes for municipal assemblies (media)

Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Lumir Abdixhiku said today that according to the preliminary results of the local elections, the LDK has managed to get over 180,000 votes for municipal assemblies, leading in Kosovo.

Abdixhiku mentioned the first-round wins of LDK candidates, including Imri Ahmeti, Ilir Ferati and Ruzhdi Shehu, congratulating them on their success and saying it is a joint victory for the whole party. “From today, you are the mayors of all citizens without any difference,” he said.

Cakolli from KDI summarizes results of local elections so far (EO)

Senior researcher at the Kosovo Democratic Institute, Eugen Cakolli, summarized the results of the local elections so far, saying that if all votes for mayors are put together, the Vetevendosje Movement leads with 27 percent at the Kosovo level, while the Democratic League of Kosovo leads for the municipal assemblies with 24 percent. “VV won without runoff in three municipalities (Kamenica, Podujeva, Shtime); it ranks first in two municipalities that will go to runoff elections (Gjilan, Fushe Kosove); and is second in 10 municipalities [that will go to runoff elections] (Gjakova, Kacanik, Mitrovica South, Obiliq, Rahovec, Peja, Prishtina, Prizren, Viti, Vushtrri). Compared to the 2021 local elections, VV has made visible progress. It won in no municipality without runoff elections back then, and now it has three victories, although the number where it ranks first has dropped from 5 to 2. At the same time, the number of rankings in second place grew from 8 to 10. The LDK has won without runoff elections in two municipalities (Istog, Lipjan); it is first in six municipalities that will go to runoff elections (Dragash, Obiliq, Peja, Prishtina, Viti, Junik); and is second in three municipalities (Gjilan, Fushe Kosove and Suhareka). The LDK maintained almost the same level as in 2021. The number of municipalities won without runoff elections remains unchanged (2), and the number where it ranks first in runoff has grown from 5 to 6. The number of rankings in second place has dropped from 4 to 3. The PDK has won without runoff elections in three municipalities (Skenderaj, Ferizaj, Hani i Elezit); it ranks first in four municipalities that will go to runoff elections (Kacanik, Mitrovica South, Prizren, Vushtrri); and is second in two municipalities (Dragash, Klina). The PDK has marked a slight decline compared to 2021. Victories without runoff elections have dropped from 4 to 3, municipalities where it ranks first from 6 to 4, while rankings in second place from 4 to 2. The AAK has won without runoff elections in one municipality (Decan); it ranks first in four municipalities that will go to runoff elections (Gjakova, Klina, Rahovec, Suhareka); and is ranked second in one municipality (Junik). The AAK remains at a similar level compared to the 2021 elections. Victories without runoff elections have dropped from 2 to 1, while the number of municipalities where it ranks first remains unchanged (4). Rankings in second place are also the same (1 municipality).”

Albanian Alliance is second in Gracanica; “we’ll have stronger voice” (Telegrafi)

The news website reports that the Albanian Alliance, a coalition of Albanian parties, managed to win 2,635 votes or 23.15 percent of support in the Serb-majority municipality of Gracanica. This marks the first time that Albanian political parties competed under a single list and managed to become the second political force in a Serb-majority municipality. The coalition’s candidate for mayor, Leutrim Ajeti, thanked the people for their support and the volunteers for their commitment during the election campaign. “A special thank you to the candidates for the municipal assembly and to the volunteers that never stopped in the last two months. The Albanian Alliance is the first project that united all Albanians in a Serb-majority municipality, and it will continue to do so, because only when we are united, can we achieve success,” Ajeti said in a Facebook post.

Ajeti also said that “this is a historic moment” for Albanians in Gracanica, and that the Alliance will now have broader representation and greater responsibilities in the municipal institutions.

“Serbian List admits Serbia’s interference in Kosovo elections” (EO)

The news website reports that the Serbian List has “openly admitted that Serbia played a key role in local elections held in Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo”. SL leader Zlatan Elek told a press conference after the elections that the victory of this party is a result of Serbia’s support. “Thank you [Serbian] President Vucic, the government of Serbia and the office for Kosovo. This is Serbia’s victory in Kosovo,” he said.

Nenad Vukmirovic appointed acting Minister of Communities and Returns (media)

Most news websites reported that Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti has appointed Nenad Vukmirovic as acting Minister of Communities and Returns after Nenad Rasic was elected as deputy speaker of the Kosovo Assembly.

Osmani: Honored to be invited to NATO Parliamentary Assembly (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said she is honored to be invited to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, which is being held in Slovenia. Osmani shared a video on Facebook showing her alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Slovenia is hosting the 71st Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. The country’s capital Ljubljana is welcoming this significant international event, which brings together parliamentarians from NATO member states as well as representatives from partner countries.

Von der Leyen to visit Kosovo on Wednesday (AP)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to visit Kosovo on October 15. Von der Leyen will be in Kosovo on Wednesday for an official visit as part of a regional tour she is undertaking across the Western Balkans. Her visit will follow her stop to Tirana, though it is not yet known which state officials she will meet during her stay.

The publication of the European Commission’s annual report, which usually takes place in October, has been postponed to early November. The news portal informs that the delay is linked to von der Leyen’s planned visits to the capitals of the region. The report on Kosovo is expected to focus mainly on Kosovo’s institutional deadlock, while the report on Serbia will address the domestic crisis and ongoing protests that have lasted nearly a year. The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is described as a state-level crisis, whereas North Macedonia remains blocked in its EU integration process due to Bulgaria’s veto.

Serbian Language Media

Serbian officials congratulated the Serbian List on victory in nine municipalities in Kosovo (RTS, media)

After the local elections in Kosovo and the victory of Serbian List (SL) in the first round in nine out of ten municipalities, Serbian state officials sent their congratulations. The first to do so was the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic last night, followed by other congratulations. Among others, Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, and the President of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and advisor to the President of Serbia for regional issues, Milos Vucevic, also congratulated the SL.

Petkovic congratulated the SL party on its victory and said that the Serbian people had shown "admirable unity and responsibility" towards their own future.

"I congratulate the Serbian people and our Serbian List on the magnificent victory in the local elections in KiM, because the results of today's elections will enable our people in the province to regain political control over the majority Serbian municipalities in the north, consolidate the municipalities in the south and eliminate the catastrophic consequences of the years of imposed administration by the occupying regime of Albin Kurti," Petkovic emphasized.

"The victory of Serbian unity in KiM is greater and more magnificent because in recent months the SL was the victim of persecution which has not been seen anywhere in modern democratic Europe, whereby the Serbs have once again confirmed their state-building and democratic capacity," Petkovic concluded.

Milos Vucevic congratulated the SL party on its victory in the elections in nine out of ten Serbian municipalities in Kosovo, emphasizing that it was "a convincing victory for Serbia."

"Thank you to every one of our men, who believed, who stood by their Serbia. This is a convincing victory for Serbia, our faith, effort and responsibility," Vucevic wrote on his Instagram account, adding that "we continue even stronger, for our people, peace and for Serbia."

Mayors elected in 21 municipalities, 17 going to the second round of elections (KiM radio)

Out of the 38 municipalities in Kosovo, in 21 the election for the president of the municipality was already completed in the first round of local elections held on October 12, while the second round will be organized on November 9 in the remaining 17 municipalities, reported KiM radio.

According to the preliminary results of the Central Election Commission (CEC), victories were also recorded in larger municipalities. Municipalities with the second round of elections are: Dragas, Kosovo Polje, Djakovica, Gnjilane, Junik, Kacanik, Klina, Klokot, South Mitrovica, Obilic, Pec, Pristina, Prizren, Orahovac, Suva Reka, Vitina and Vucitrn.

According to CEC data, the turnout in these elections was 39 percent.

The counting of votes for councilors begins today, CEC spokesperson Valmir Elezi announced, adding that the votes of candidates for members of municipal assemblies are being counted in municipal counting centers. Counting will begin at different times - in some centers at 12 noon and in some places at 4 p.m.

The election process was assessed as peaceful and incident-free. The Prosecutor's Office hired about 100 prosecutors and officials to monitor the process and act in case of irregularities, while the Kosovo police, according to the operational plan, ensured security and regular implementation of the elections.

Stojanovic and Veljkovic announced retirement after local elections held on Sunday (KiM radio, Alternativna, Kontakt plus radio, KoSSev)

Branimir Stojanovic, former mayor of Gracanica and deputy prime minister of Kosovo, announced he was retiring from political life after 12 years of active work. Soon after his announcement on Facebook, Stefan Veljkovic, a member of the Serbian Democracy, announced that he was resigning from all party positions and retiring from political life, after his party did not achieve the expected results in the local elections in Kosovo.

"Dear friends, after 12 years of dealing with what I personally experienced as a struggle for a better life for our people, I am putting an end to my political involvement," Branimir Stojanovic, the Serbian People's Movement list holder in the elections in Gracanica, said in a post on FB this morning. He made the decision to withdraw from politics after a bad election result. Namely, his candidates did not receive enough voter support for the local assembly.

"My debt to the people has been repaid. I never had to be involved in politics, so I don't have to now," he wrote, stressing that his family and friends have suffered the consequences of his political views and attempts to bring about change for years. He added that although he made mistakes while making decisions, he was never part of those who, as he said, got rich while the people "fell apart".

"Thank you to everyone who has supported us even now, but there are not enough of us to fool ourselves that we can achieve something," he added.

KiM radio recalled that Stojanovic was one of the founders of the Serbian List, but after several years he separated from that political party and became its harsh critic. He assumed the position of mayor of Gracanica at the end of 2013; at the end of 2014 he was appointed as the deputy prime minister of Kosovo.

"Immense thanks to everyone who supported us with their votes. Due to the unsatisfactory results in North Mitrovica, I am resigning from party positions in the Serbian democracy, and I am no longer involved in politics," Veljkovic wrote in a post on social networks.

In the same post, Veljkovic added an ironic comment: "Sojic said that the people like to be ridden - maybe he was right", alluding to a well-known sentence from Serbian TV domestic satire.

Arsenijevic on elections results: One municipal councilor seat in Zvecan and Mitrovica North each, two in Leposavic (Radio KIM)

Serbian Democracy mayoral candidate in Mitrovica North and the party leader, Aleksandar Arsenijevic extended his gratitude to voters supporting his party in elections yesterday, Radio KIM reported.

“I am a mayoral candidate and a list holder in Mitrovica North, would like to thank our citizens who believed in our spirit, because with my expulsion and everything they did, with pressures from all sides, only a ghost wandering Mitrovica streets had been left of me. People voted for this ghost, aware that I am physically not present and that I would not be able to represent them in person”, Arsenijevic said. Arsenijevic is staying out of Kosovo for three months already, following discovery of a cache of weapons on the open property he used, for which he claims to be a set up aiming to politically discredit him.

He told Radio KIM that under such circumstances receiving support from voters was a nice gesture, adding “as long as there is a single such a vote, it is worth fighting for”. He also opined that his absence was the reason for the party’s result in Mitrovica North, arguing if he had been present vote results in this city would have been twice as good.

As he said the party will have one councillor seat in Zvecan and Mitrovia North each, and two seats in Leposavic. The party received around 1.600 votes in the north of Kosovo.

Commenting on the decision of Stefan Veljkovic, the party vice president who resigned following the election results and withdrew from politics, Arsenijevic said this was “a phase”, which they already went through after parliamentary elections on February 9. “I absolutely understand his feeling of being betrayed by our people, but each pressure exerted upon us, has also reflected on citizens as well”, he said.

In a post on Facebook Arsenijevic also said that Veljkovic’s decision “ (…) was made in haste. We have a lot of exhaustion and mixed emotions. That decision is unacceptable for the entire Serbian Democracy and we will not allow it to be implemented. When we rest, everything will fall into place”.

Igor Rasic: I am not satisfied with results of elections (Radio KIM)

Mayoral candidate for Gracanica from the ranks of Freedom, Justice and Democracy Party, Igor Rasic said he is not satisfied with results of local elections in this municipality. According to him, the arrival of displaced persons to vote “took its toll”, Radio KIM reported. He also said his party had greater expectations from this election, adding “significantly lower percentage of voters than what they have expected recognized their efforts, work and results they made thus far and continue making”.

He also opined that based on the number of votes they received in Gracanica, they will have two to three municipal councilor seats in the municipal assembly.

Student protesters urge public to back farmers’ protests (N1)

On Sunday evening, student protesters called on everyone to join the farmers’ protest rallies scheduled for October 13 and 14 across multiple locations in Serbia, N1 reported. “Farmers are facing intense pressure, with their property and crops being destroyed and their families threatened. Stand with those who feed us and care for us all”, the students said in a post on Instagram.

Serbian farmers have outlined six key demands, including the payment of all outstanding debts, freeing the market from monopolies and cartel influence, excise-free fuel at pumps starting January 1 next year, and addressing the issue of fictitious farms.

“After numerous meetings with students, farmers have recognized the importance of highlighting all their issues and pushing for systemic solutions. Together with the students, they have contributed to drafting a core program and a social agreement on agricultural issues”, the students said.

Opinion

The challenge of the Serbian List’s return to local government in the north (Koha)

Op-ed by Brussels-based Augustin Palokaj

The local elections in Kosovo have shown great maturity and emancipation by voters. They prove that no one in Kosovo has guaranteed votes and that the citizens don’t vote on ideological basis but cast their votes for people who they believe will best represent their interests. The citizens know better the candidates in the local elections compared to those in the general elections. Perhaps this should be a motive to change the election law and to create several election zones in Kosovo and not have Kosovo as a single election unit. In this way, the voters would be closer to the candidates they vote for and those that are elected in the Assembly would focus on the interests of citizens from their zones and not only on the interests of their political parties.

These elections have been seen by the international community, and especially by the European Union, to have special importance because they have marked the return of Serbs in local government in the north of Kosovo.

For several years in the four northern municipalities of Kosovo, the mayors were Albanian even though Serbs make up the majority of the population in those municipalities. This situation was not a result of an objective by Albanians to take power in those municipalities, but rather a result of the withdrawal of Serbs from Kosovo’s institutions in the north. Kosovo organized elections not to allow a complete vacuum in local government and Serbs boycotted the elections. The EU criticized the withdrawal of Serbs and Belgrade’s encouragement for the boycott, but in practice it did nothing to change the situation, it did not sanction Belgrade or the leaders of Kosovo Serbs, who organized the boycott, and who even moved to the illegal including forming paramilitary structures. The EU imposed sanctions on Kosovo, but took no measures against Serbia.

The participation of Serbs in these elections marks their return to Kosovo’s institutions. And regardless of what they say, what terms they use, their participation in these elections marks a step toward the de facto recognition of Kosovo’s independence. Pathetic statements like “Serbia’s interference in the elections is not external because Kosovo and Metohija is part of Serbia” do not change the fact that the elections are held in the Republic of Kosovo and according to the laws of the Republic of Kosovo. And the EU too specifies that the dialogue agreement in 2013 notes that the elections are within Kosovo’s laws. If Kosovo were “part of Serbia” these elections would not be held at all.

The European Union welcomes the participation of Serbs in Kosovo’s local elections, after it had also criticized their withdrawal from Kosovo’s local institutions and the boycott of elections. But it remains a challenge to see how and with what purpose the Serbian List will take local power in the north. Will Serbs move toward integration in Kosovo, follow their interests as citizens of Kosovo or will they continue to be a tool for Belgrade to challenge the state of Kosovo.

Is it going to be important for the Kosovo Serbs to have their rights in Kosovo secured and guaranteed or will they rejoice the recognition of Kosovo’s independence by Burundi. Will they integrate in Kosovo and normalize their relations with fellow citizens from the Albanian community or will they be a tool to “protect Serbia’s sovereignty over Kosovo”.

The way that Serbs will return to the local government is going to be a challenge for all political parties in Kosovo, and for the international community too. A challenge in their return to Kosovo’s institutions will not be only the transfer of the municipal government, or the case of mayors and municipal councilors, but also the fate of municipal structures and security and judicial structures. There can be no automatic return of police officers from the Serb community, especially not for those who are proved to have acted on Serbia’s orders and those that took part in acts of violence in the north.

The international community, especially the EU, must know that they too have contributed to the situation where there is no political pluralism among the Kosovo Serbs. The EU, and even the United States, have factorized and defended the Serbian List because they wanted to do a service to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. It does not suffice for the EU to say in all its report that “there is no political pluralism” among the Kosovo Serbs and that there were intimidation and threats against those that ran against the Serbian List. Except for these reports, the EU did not want and does not want to take any action to change this situation.

The postelection process will be a very important element to see what direction the EU-facilitated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia is going to take. This dialogue is centered precisely on the north of Kosovo and the formation of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, regardless of the fact that the parties have other priorities too. This is why there was such great attention by the international community to Sunday’s elections although such an interest is not ordinary for local elections.

International

Kosovo local elections head to runoffs in most municipalities: early results (PI)

Early results from Kosovo’s local elections suggest that most municipalities, including the capital Prishtina, are headed for runoffs.

Minutes after polling stations closed at 7 p.m. on Sunday, the streets of several Kosovo cities erupted in celebration as supporters of political parties took to the streets waving flags, honking car horns, singing songs, and setting off fireworks following the release of the first exit poll results.

Early results from Sunday’s municipal elections indicate that most major municipalities—including Prishtina, Peja, and Prizren—are likely heading to a second round of voting, while the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, anxiously waits for the vote count to see if they have won South Mitrovica in the first round. With around 68% of ballots counted in Ferizaj, PDK looks to have secured a solid victory in the first round.

In Prishtina, current mayor Përparim Rama of the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, leads the race and is expected to face Hajrulla Çeku of the Vetëvendosje Movement, LVV, in a runoff between the top two contenders. By the time of publication, around 50% of the votes have been counted with Rama and Çeku going head to head, in line with the predictions of the exit polls.

With around 60% of the votes counted in South Mitrovica by the time of publication, PDK’s Arian Tahiri and Faton Peci from LVV—currently acting minister of Agriculture—differ by around 1%. Exit polls, however, gave Tahiri a solid victory.

Around 73% of the votes have been counted in Ferizaj by the time of publication, allowing incumbent mayor Agim Aliu of PDK to claim the lead with around 56.3%.