Local elections were held throughout Kosovo on 26 October 2002, organized by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).Report on the municipal elections in Kosovo 26 October 2002, Observation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE), Council of Europe, 8 January 2003, accessed 2 February 2022. This was the second local electoral cycle held in Kosovo after the start of the UNMIK mandate in 1999.

In each municipality, elections were held for municipal assemblies under a system of proportional representation. The elected representatives in each jurisdiction were responsible for choosing an assembly president, who held the rank of mayor. (Beginning with the next local electoral cycle in 2007, mayors were directly elected.)

The Serb community, which had generally boycotted the last round of local voting in 2000, participated in the vote in five predominantly Serb municipalities: Zubin Potok, Zvečan, Leposavić, Novo Brdo, and Štrpce.

In northern Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbs generally abstained from voting. Milan Ivanović, the leader of the Serbian National Council in northern Kosovo, said that UNMIK had not provided any guarantees that the Kosovska Mitrovica municipal administration would be decentralized, nor had it created adequate security and institutional conditions for Serb participation. He added that the Serb community was not boycotting elections in Kosovska Mitrovica as such, but was rather giving the international community the opportunity to organize new elections once certain conditions had been met."Local Kosovo Serb leader explains reasons for boycott of polls in Mitrovica," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 22 October 2002 (Source: Text of report by Yugoslav state news agency Tanjug).

In the rest of the province, Serb participation in the electoral process was minimal.Report on the municipal elections in Kosovo 26 October 2002, Observation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE), Council of Europe, 8 January 2003, accessed 2 February 2022.

In November 2002, the Serbian government agreed to give UNMIK direct control over the municipal government of northern Kosovska Mitrovica on a provisional basis."Serbian deputy PM says UN administration of Mitrovica agreed with Belgrade," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 26 November 2002 (Source: Tanjug news agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 1220 gmt 26 Nov 02)."Serbia's Covic announces forming of northern Mitrovica council," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 17 December 2002 (Source: Beta news agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 1236 gmt 17 Dec 02).

Results

Gjakova District Gjakova

Incumbent mayor Aqif Shehu of the Democratic League of Kosovo was confirmed for another term in office after the election. The Gjakova municipal council voted to remove Shehu from office in late 2005, but their decision was overturned by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)."Kosovo UN chief annuls municipal council decision to dismiss mayor," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 6 November 2005 (Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 4 Nov 05). Shehu appears to have broken with the local LDK leadership during this term.

Deçan

Ibrahim Selmanaj of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo became mayor after the election. He resigned in 2005 after being appointed as a minister in the Kosovo government and was replaced by Nazmi Selmanaj of the same party.Deçani – Raporti komunal, Instituti për Studime të Avancuara GAP, November 2009, accessed 19 March 2024."Vëllai i Kryetarit Furnizon Komunën e Deçanit", Kallxo, 5 March 2012, accessed 19 March 2024.

Rahovec

Incumbent mayor Esad Haxhijaha of the Democratic League of Kosovo was confirmed for a new term in office after the election."Kush ishte ish-kryetari i Rahovecit Esad Haxhijaha", Syri, 21 January 2020, accessed 20 March 2024. He later joined the breakaway Democratic League of Dardania.ZGJEDHJET PËR KRYETARË TË KOMUNAVE 2007 – Fletëvotimet (Raundi i parë) – Rahovec, Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 18 January 2022.

Mitrovica District Leposavić

Velimir Bojović of the Democratic Party of Serbia was chosen as mayor after the election."Leš još u Ibru", Glas javnosti, 7 April 2003, accessed 2 February 2022.

Mitrovica

Incumbent mayor Faruk Spahija of the Democratic League of Kosovo was confirmed for another term in office after the election."Report of the Security Council Mission to Kosovo and Belgrade, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia", United Nations Security Council, 19 December 2002, accessed 4 February 2022. He died of cancer in October 2005"Ethnic Albanian mayor of Kosovo's divided Mitrovica dies," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 4 October 2005 (Source: Text of report in English by independent internet news agency KosovaLive). and was replaced by Mursel Ibrahimi of the same party."Negociatorët pro projektit të Mitrovicës", British Broadcasting Corporation Albanian, 19 April 2016, accessed 4 February 2022.

Skenderaj

Incumbent mayor Ramadan Gashi of the Democratic Party of Kosovo was confirmed for another term in office after the election.AGJENCIA PËR NDIHMË JURIDIKE FALAS, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 2 February 2022.

Vushtrri

Incumbent mayor Muharrem Shabani of the Democratic League of Kosovo was confirmed for another term in office after the election."Report of the Security Council Mission to Kosovo and Belgrade, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia", United Nations Security Council, 19 December 2002, accessed 4 February 2022.

Zubin Potok

Incumbent mayor Slaviša Ristić of the Democratic Party of Serbia was confirmed for another term in office after the election.Председништво, , Democratic Party of Serbia, 14 August 2016, accessed 11 January 2022.

Zvečan

Dragiša Milović of the Democratic Party of Serbia was chosen as mayor after the election."Nema odluke o produženju mandata", Politika, 9 June 2008, accessed. 25 January 2022. Milan Ivanović of the Serbian National Council served as deputy mayor.Biljana Radomirović, "Београд тражи изборе на Космету, Унмик још ћути", Politika, 4 April 2008, accessed 29 January 2021.

Peja District Peja

Incumbent mayor Ali Lajçi of the Democratic League of Kosovo was confirmed for another term in office after the election.Skënder Mulliqi, "Pse Ali Lajçi duhet të jetë kandidat i LV për kryetar të Pejës?", Bota Sot, 17 December 2020, accessed 13 March 2024.

Istog

Incumbent mayor Fadil Ferati of the Democratic League of Kosovo was confirmed for another term in office after the election."Vdiq Fadil Ferati, nënkryetar i LDK-së", Bota Sot, 30 January 2010, accessed 17 March 2024.

Klina

Incumbent mayor Ramë Manaj of the Democratic League of Kosovo was confirmed for another term in office after the election.Kosovo: Who's Who in the New Government, United States Department of State, 2007, accessed 17 March 2024. He resigned in 2006 and was replaced by Prenkë Gjetaj.OSCE Magazine, Octobre 2006, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, p. 14.

References