PRISTINA – According to polls, the seven biggest municipalities will likely go to runoffs, it was concluded after municipal elections in Kosovo, which were held on Sunday. The run-off elections will be held on November 19 in municipalities where no mayoral candidate obtains 50 percent plus one of all votes in the first round. http://bit.ly/2gBQaXz

Preliminary results in Kosovo’s municipal elections indicate that runoffs will be needed to decide the winning candidates in mayoral races in major cities throughout the Balkan country. With about 47 percent of precincts reporting in the capital, Pristina, the Central Election Commission (CEC) said incumbent Mayor Shpend Ahmeti of the Self-Determination Party, also known as the Vetevendosje movement (VV), has won 43.84 percent of the vote. If confirmed, it would mean that Ahmeti would face a runoff next month against Arban Abrashi of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), with 36.37 percent.

The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, said today that international observers will be observing election process, as well as counting of votes.

“I am very glad to be here today, to in a way start my day as observer of local elections here in Kosovo. The United States of America believe that Kosovo has a tremendous opportunity today to demonstrate commitment to democracy by participating in free, credible and peaceful, elections.” He said international observers, increase peoples’ trust in elections.