Local elections produce "winners" for everyone

The local elections in Kosovo have produced a new political map. After the first round on October 12 and the runoff held on Sunday, all parties have in some way declared victory. 

The Vetëvendosje Movement and the LDK have won seven municipalities each, while the PDK has won 6 and the AAK 5. The Serbian List has won 10 municipalities. 

After winning Podujevo, Shtime and Kamenica in the first round, LVV also triumphed in South Mitrovica, Gjilan, Obiliq and Fushë-Kosovo Polje in the runoff. 

In the first round, the LDK won Lipjan and Istog, while in the runoff it won Pristina, Peja, Dragash, Junik and Viti. 

And PDK won Skenderaj, Ferizaj and Hani i Elezit in the first round, and in the runoff it won Prizren, Kaçanik and Vushtrri. 

AAK had won Deçan without a runoff, and in the runoff it also won Gjakova, Suhareka, Rahovec and Klina, the municipalities where it has governed. 

Political analyst Artan Muhaxhiri said that the loss in Pristina is huge for Vetëvendosje. 

"In Pristina, it is a big loss for Mr. Kurti. He had a good chance to win. We will see that everyone says that I am the winner. The problem is that there is no absolute winner... It is bad for the changes at the central level. With such an approach, it can also be continued at the central level," Muhaxhiri said on Sunday in the special edition of KTV. 

Even political expert Erblin Hoxha believes that Vetëvendosje in Pristina has missed the opportunity to deal a blow to LDK. 

"Definitely for Vetëvendosje, Prishtina is a competition in itself. More than having lost, it has lost the opportunity to inflict a defeat on LDK. It seems that precisely this closeness of votes is not necessarily the results of just one party. We had a broad coalition of almost all parties in Prishtina, this more than being a victory for LDK, I think it is a great alarm that LDK cannot hold the capital with the same approach. Therefore, these next 4 years are crucial for LDK, otherwise it will remain a party with very few municipalities," said Hoxha in the special edition of KTV. 

Political expert Artan Alijaj assessed that the political collaborations seen at the central level have now been reflected in the local elections, especially in Pristina.

"These coalitions have already materialized at the local level, I think that in Pristina too it is already a done deal that we have a coalition between LDK, PDK and AAK. I think that since the first round, AAK has given the LDK the benefit of the doubt, since it was AAK's votes that enabled Mr. Rama to participate in the runoff, while it is seen that PDK has managed to convince its voters to vote for Mr. Rama and as a result, perhaps thanks to the PDK's vote, Mr. Rama will be president for another four years," he said. 

According to him, if there were no blockade at the central level, the PDK and its candidate, Uran Ismaili, would have had the opportunity to consider a possible agreement with the Vetëvendosje Movement.

"This is the result of this blockade that we have at the central level. If it weren't for this blockade, PDK and Uran Ismaili would probably consider a possible agreement with the Vetëvendosje Movement," he said.

And party leaders have called the local elections successful. 

Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, leader of the Vetëvendosje Movement, said in a Facebook post on Monday that "not even the unity of all opponents stopped the Movement." 

"Thank you for participating in yesterday's runoff to all of you who exercised your right to vote. You showed will and maturity, you contributed to democracy in Kosovo and the orientation of public policies in your municipalities. Now hold each mayor accountable for the promises made and the situation in cities and villages. Dear activists of VETËVENDOSJE! We will now govern in seven municipalities of the Republic, more than ever before. Not even the unity of all opponents could stop our movement. Thank you to everyone for your commitment. A lot of work and challenges await us, which means that many successes and victories lie ahead," Kurti wrote.

And the LDK said it had achieved an extraordinary result.  

"We would love to win all the municipalities. This time we have won seven, including Pristina. Of course, in some municipalities we try, we engage and there comes a time when the government changes. This is not the end of politics. I believe that our candidates should also feel proud in Fushë Kosovë, Obiliq, Gjilan and Suhareka. Just as I congratulate all our teams in the first round, so in general the LDK has an extraordinary result in a difficult electoral race in Kosovo. In Pristina we have had the support of the citizens of Pristina", said the leader of the LDK, Lumir Abdixhiku. 

And the leader of AAK, Ramush Haradinaj, said that an increased trust in the party at the national level has been confirmed.

"Yesterday confirmed the political power and stability of the Alliance. We have triumphed in the 5 municipalities where we have governed, while we will be in co-government in over 10 municipalities. In the municipal assemblies, the Alliance is represented by 98 assemblymen. Therefore, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all our activists and structures, especially those in the Diaspora, who showed dedication and truthfulness at every step. To the 87.358 citizens who trusted us and supported our political project, I assure you that we will work even harder to respect this trust, working, advancing and reforming for the next elections," Haradinaj wrote on Facebook. 

And the leader of the PDK, Memli Krasniqi, appeared in Prizren on Sunday night together with Shaqir Totaj, declaring victory in this municipality. Totaj will govern Prizren for another term. However, the PDK had declared victory in the assembly, saying that it has the most assembly members. 
And the parties celebrated on Sunday in the municipalities where their victory was confirmed. 

KOHË journalist Besnik Krasniqi said that the defeat in Pristina and Prizren should serve as a lesson to the Vetëvendosje Movement. 

"If you don't maintain an investment in certain bastions, then you lose it. The comeback is difficult," Krasniqi said in the special edition of KTV. 

He said that Vetëvendosje would have done better if it had nominated Hajrullah Çeku as a candidate for Prizren instead of Pristina. 

"Since we know Mr. Çeku primarily through his activity in Prizren. I don't know if he succeeded with this candidacy. Many people say that another candidacy, like that of Mr. Glauk Konjufca, would have passed without a problem in the first round," said Krasniqi. 

Krasniqi said that local and national elections are not related, and proof of this was 4 years ago when Vetëvendosje won over 50 percent at the national level, but only managed to win three municipalities at the local level. 

Krasniqi said that in terms of population and territory, LDK emerges as the winner in the local elections. He said that it will govern with around 463 thousand inhabitants and a territory of 2701 square kilometers. In terms of population, PDK will govern with 440 thousand inhabitants and a territory of 1993 square kilometers. The seven municipalities that Vetëvendosje will govern have a total of 349 thousand 410 citizens, and a total of 2101 square kilometers.