Local elections were held in Kosovo on 15 November and 13 December 2009.[1] These were the first local elections to be held after Kosovo declared independence in February 2008. The elections were to elect mayors and municipal councils in 36 municipalities, and were contested by 37 ethnic Albanian parties and 21 Serbian lists. All citizens with a valid ID were able to vote in the elections.[2] [3]
Pieter Feith, the European Union Special Representative in Kosovo, declared before the election that he expected the elections to "pass the democratic test".[4]
The elections were still unfinished two months after starting. Many cities recounted votes or ordered fresh voting.[5]
Prizren and Lipjan held their elections on 31 January 2009.[6]
These elections resulted in Democratic Party of Kosovo control over the majority of local positions.
Qazim Qeska resigned as mayor in mid-2010. He later attempted to return to the position but was prevented from doing so by a court decision. A new mayoral election took place over two rounds on 21 November and 19 December.[7] [8]
The Serb community in northern Kosovo generally boycotted the 2009 local elections. Although elections were formally held and results certified for Leposavić, Zubin Potok, and Zvečan, the turnouts were extremely low, the outcomes were not recognized internationally or in the communities in question, and the winning candidates never took power.[9] [10]
Note: The nine candidates who were formally elected were the only candidates on the ballot. There were nineteen seats in the assembly.
Note: There was only one candidate on the Democratic Party of Kosovo's list.
Note: There were only two candidates on the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo's list. There were nineteen seats in the assembly.
Fadil Ferati died on 30 January 2010, and a new mayoral election was held over two rounds on 11 April and 9 May.[11] Haki Rugova of the Democratic League of Kosovo served as acting mayor pending the new election.[12] [13]