Kosovo Sets Election Deadline

Local elections in Kosovo are to be held by November 15 of this year.

Kosovo’s President, Fatmir Sejdiu, announced the decision after consultations with the other parties over the last few weeks.

Opposition parties asked for elections to be held in October, arguing that bad weather in November may deter voters from turning up to the polls.

The three opposition parties represented in parliament (Alliance for a New Kosovo, the Democratic League of Dardania and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo) joined three opposition parties not represented in parliament (ORA, the Justice Party and the Social Democratic Party) in signing a joint agreement requesting the President to have the elections in October.

Ibrahim Makolli, deputy head of the Alliance for a New Kosovo, said that the opposition parties' suggestion to hold the election in October “is completely in accordance with the Law for Local Elections."

He added that October is the "right time for the organisation of local elections" and feels that an October election would increase footfall at the ballot box.

Turnout at the local and general elections held in November 2007 was only 40%.

(Reporting by Vjosa Musliu)