Shpejtim Bulliqi, a candidate of Kosovo’s opposition Vetevendosje for mayor of Podujeva won 51.64 percent of votes on Sunday, while Milan Radojevic from Serbian List won 89.86 percent of votes in North Mitrovica.
The two cities went to snap elections following the resignations of their former mayors who took offices in the government.
Podujeva’s former mayor Agim Veliu was appointed as Minister of Internal Affairs in the government led by Vetevendosje’s leader, Albin Kurti.
LDK lost Podujeva, their stronghold, for the first time in 20 years.
While the former mayor of Serb-run North Mitrovica, Goran Rakic was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister when the government led by Avdullah Hoti was elected.
According Kosovo’s Central Election Commission the preliminary results do not include conditional voting and those who voted from diaspora.
Two other candidates for Podujeva’s mayor, Nexhmi Rudari from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) won 35.97 percent, while Naim Fetahu from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) won 12.40 percent of votes.
“Only one party wins the elections, only one candidate. LDK won in Podujeva until now and we are grateful to citizens for giving us their vote and their trust,” Isa Mustafa, the leader of LDK said after losing the city.
40.51 percent of citizens used their right to vote in Podujeva.
On the other side, in North Mitrovica Erden Atic from Vetevendosje won 3.68 percent, an independent candidate Dusan Milunovic won 2.92 percent and Florent Azemi from PDK won 3.54 percent of votes.
39.14 percent of citizens in the Serb-run city used their right to vote.
The mandate of new mayors will be valid until the next local elections that are expected to be held on October 2021.
