Macron expressed regret over the failure of the referendum in northern Kosovo

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed regret over the failure of the referendum on the recall of Albanian mayors in four Serbian municipalities in northern Kosovo, the Belgrade newspaper Politika reported today, April 24, citing a press release from the Elysee Palace.

In a telephone conversation with the Kosovo “prime minister” Albin Kurti Macron said that the organization of new elections remains necessary with the participation of the Serbian population.

On Sunday, April 21, in four northern districts – North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zvecan Zubin Potok, due to low voter turnout, the Albanian mayors of these municipalities were not fired. It is known that the referendum was boycotted by the Serbian majority, and Pristina assessed this situation as “pressure from Belgrade.”

Macron also stressed to Kurti “the importance that France attaches to rapid and irreversible progress in creating a community of Serb-majority municipalities.”

In turn, the news portal Kosovo Online noted that the vote to change mayors in Serbian municipalities in northern Kosovo failed, since only 0.54% of voters took part in this event.

It is noted that neither the so-called “government” in Pristina, nor the international community should have any doubts that the mayors in the north of the region, elected (or rather, appointed by Albin Kurti) a year ago, have no legitimacy and there are no Serbs behind them. Analysts state with caustic sarcasm: “the operation was successful, the patient died.”

Pristina, despite another election farce, claims that it has “fulfilled its obligations to citizens” and demands the lifting of restrictions by the EU. Serbian human rights activists assess the referendum in Kosovo as a precedent and a violation of all democratic principles.

It should be noted that 253 voters out of 46,556 citizens eligible to vote participated in the referendum on changing mayors in four districts in the north. In North Mitrovica, 111 people voted (0.59%), in Leposavic – 124 (0.91%), in Zubin Potok – 18 (0.26%), and in Zvecan – no one (0%).

Despite these results, “Prime Minister” Kurti said that the current electoral process in four municipalities in the north of the region “was evidence of improved security conditions and the rule of law.”

“Promoting the replacement of current municipal heads and holding elections were key criteria for the European Union to lift its measures against Kosovo. These unfair measures following today’s vote must be eliminated as soon as possible.” – Kurti said.

As previously reported EADaily, local Serbs boycotted municipal elections in northern Kosovo last April, so Albanian mayors were elected based on votes cast by Albanians, with a turnout of just 3.5%. Soon after, riots broke out in the Serbian settlements as the Albanian elected mayors wanted to take over their posts. Local Serbs had clashes with the Kosovo police and military personnel of the international NATO peacekeeping force – KFOR.