Headlines - 23.10.2017

• LDK wins back lead, leaving PDK and Vetevendosje behind (Zeri)
• Runoff elections to determine winner in most municipalities (Koha/Zeri)
• Local elections, peaceful and free of major incidents (Bota Sot)
• Thaci: Good flow of elections, yet another success (RTK)
• PM Haradinaj congratulates people and parties on elections (media)
• Vucic congratulates Serbian List for winning ten municipalities (media)
• RAEPC allocates 60 thousand numbers for Serbian operator (Epoka)

LDK wins back lead, leaving PDK and Vetevendosje behind (Zeri)

It its coverage of local election result, the paper on the front page focuses on the performance of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) saying it is coming out as the most voted party in these elections, followed by the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and Vetevendosje. The paper also notes that with only few months in between elections, LDK has managed to significantly increase votes and become a major power in most municipalities. Based on results presented by NGO, Democracy in Action, LDK has won over 210,000 votes, PDK 150,000 and Vetevendosje 130,000.

Runoff elections to determine winner in most municipalities (Koha/Zeri)

Both papers highlight that the election result presented by the Democracy in Action shows that majority of Kosovo municipalities will head for another round of voting as no candidate managed to secure over 50 percent of the votes. Apart from Pristina, where Vetevendosje and LDK candidates will go to runoffs, other major cities like Prizren, Mitrovica, Gjilan/Gnjilane, Ferizaj/Urosevac, Gjakova/Djakovica will also have another round of voting. Zeri reports that a total of 19 municipalities are set to avoid more voting as according to unofficial results candidates there have secured the necessary votes. These include Peja/Pec, Vitia/Vitina, Fushe Kosova/Kosovo Polje, Drenas/Glogovac, Decan/Decane, Lipjan, Junik, Skenderaj/Srbica, Hani i Elezit/Djeneral Jankovic, Leposaviq/Leposavic, Zvecan, Zubin Potok, Mitrovica North, Gracanica, Ranilug, Partesh/Partes, Shterpce/Strpce, Novoberde/Novobrdo, and Mamusha.

Local elections, peaceful and free of major incidents (Bota Sot)

Democracy in Action, NGO that monitored yesterday elections and presented unofficial results, said in a press conference that the elections took place in a peaceful atmosphere and no major incidents were reported, except for those in the municipalities with Serb majority. In Gracanica, a fight broke out between two voters while in Leposavic the police stopped a bus coming from Kragujevac, Serbia and found two hand grenades. Democracy in Action representatives however said that none of the incidents will have an impact on the outcome of elections.

Thaci: Good flow of elections, yet another success (RTK)

The President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, took to Facebook to write that “the good flow of local elections in Kosovo is yet another success on strengthening democracy and state”. Thaci congratulated Kosovo population, organizers, political parties, monitors and media, for showing high democratic behavior and for being tireless on assuring an election process which fulfills European standards.

PM Haradinaj congratulates people and parties on elections (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj congratulated political parties and especially citizens for their dignified behavior on election day. He added that his party, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), has won three municipalities without runoffs: Junik, Decan, and Obilic. He also said that AAK is in the lead in Gjakova, and that the party has doubled the amount of municipalities it previously held.

Vucic congratulates Serbian List for winning ten municipalities (media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic congratulated leaders of the Serbian List after the latter won in ten Serb municipalities in the Sunday local elections in Kosovo. Vucic said the victory of the Serbian List strengthens Serbia’s presence in Kosovo. “Those who tried to divide and defeat us, failed to do so,” Vucic reportedly said in a telephone call to Kosovo Serb leader in Mitrovica, Goran Rakic. Marko Djuric, head of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo, too said that the Serbian List’s result in the elections is a major victory for the Serbian people. “United around a single party and in support of Serbian state policies. Serbs in Kosovo have the strength to fight for their interests both in front of Pristina’s institutions and the international community,” Djuric said. Pristina-based news website Telegrafi quotes publicist and reporter, Adriatik Kelmendi, as saying that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is the big victor in the Kosovo local elections. “The cold shower for the end: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is the big victor in the local elections – the Serbian List that he manages has won without runoff in nine municipalities and it leads in Kllokot with around 47 percent of votes. This means absolute power in ten municipalities in Kosovo! Good night!” Kelmendi posted on Facebook.

RAEPC allocates 60 thousand numbers for Serbian operator (Epoka)

The Regulatory Authority for Electronic and Postal Communications (RAEPC), has allocated sixty thousand phone numbers for a temporary telephonic operator, as part of the implementation of the agreement for Kosovo’s telephone prefix. The agreement of 13 November of last year in the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, foresees granting Kosovo a telephone prefix in condition that a temporary operator called “Mts D.O.O.” to function in Kosovo. Kosovo’s telephone prefix, +383 is expected to become functional by mid next year, when all existing codes are expected to shut down.