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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 1d

full article terechillaku.substack.com/p/takeaways-...

Takeaways from Kosova’s Local Elections 2025

The first round of Kosova’s local elections has set the stage for a highly competitive run-off.

terechillaku.substack.com

Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 1d

In 2021, PDK and LDK coordinated tactically in Prishtina and Prizren to defeat VV.

Whether they repeat that cooperation remains uncertain, but it could again prove decisive.VV, meanwhile, has momentum in Mitrovica, Kastriot, Kaçanik, and Fushë Kosova, all potential new gains.

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 1d

Key battlegrounds and run-off dynamics

All eyes now on:
Prishtina and Prizren, both lost by VV in 2021.
Mitrovica where VV is closing in after a near dead heat.

In 2021, PDK and LDK coordinated tactically in Prishtina and Prizren to defeat VV.

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 1d

Serb List: Institutional re-entry

Serb List re-entered Kosova’s institutions, running, and winning, in nearly all Serb-majority municipalities.
This ends a period of boycott and institutional withdrawal.
Whether this will ease EU measures remains to be seen.

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 1d

In 2021, LDK had a strong local result.
This time, it’s struggling to hold ground.
It may retain more easily Viti and Peja, but Prishtina remains its biggest test.

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 1d

LDK: Weak performance and slipping incumbents

LDK had the weakest first-round showing.
It won Lipjan and Istog, but faces tight races in Prishtina, Peja, and Viti.
In Prishtina, its incumbent mayor faces the toughest challenge yet, the weakest LDK performance there to date.

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 1d

Krasniqi's poor decision making and inability to win Drenas (PDK stronghold) shows that as a party leader he's not in touch with his electoral base in Drenica.

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 1d

After the indictment of Thaçi and Veseli, the PDK never effectively replaced their leadership, instead continuing to operate in anticipation of their eventual return. Memli Krasniqi has functioned more as a temporary caretaker than a fully empowered party leader.

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 1d

PDK risks losing Mitrovica and Kaçanik despite leading marginally.

In Drenas, ex-PDK mayor Ramiz Lladrovci defeated the party’s official candidate, a major blow in a traditional PDK stronghold.

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 1d

PDK won three municipalities outright, Klina, Skenderaj, and Ferizaj, and leads in Prizren (heading to a run-off).

But cracks are showing. Internal divisions and leadership vacuums are undermining the party’s local strength.

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 1d

VV incumbents had strong performances, but expansion remains limited.

They head into 11 run-offs (excluding Gjilan).
📊 Neck-and-neck in Prishtina, Mitrovica, Kastriot, Kaçanik
⬇️ Trailing in Prizren, Gjakova, Peja, Viti, Rahovec
⬆️ Leading in Fushë Kosova

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 1d

Vetëvendosje: Strong incumbents, many run-offs

VV performed solidly, its best local showing to date. For the first time, it won outright in all four municipalities it already governed: Podujeva, Kamenica, Shtime, and Gjilan (the latter likely confirmed after diaspora votes).

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 1d

Thread on Local Elections in Kosova 2025.

The first round of #Kosova’s local elections has set the stage for a highly competitive run-off.

Most parties held onto the municipalities they, but the majority of races are heading into run-offs.

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 6d

The man who financed a paramilitary attack in Banjska and refuses to this day to hand over the terrorists, is now talking about stability. There is nothing more stable to the region than NATO allies supporting a Kosovar state to defend itself.

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 15d

They thought that through Trump they will get Srpska and Kosova. Once they realized that's not the case his popularity fell.

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 15d

IRI poll

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 15d

4 soldiers with a UK trainig exercise. Was a mistake imo

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 15d

Watched Vucic's interview for Newmax. He literally starts by lying about Trumps popularity in Serbia. Trumps actual popularity in Serbia is at 44% and below Putin and Xi. (IRI poll Sep. 2025). Serbia is not an ally of the U.S.

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 19d

The United States and the European Union support including these Serbian Paralell structures with extended autonomy into the Kosovar institutional framework

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 19d

Serbian Paralell structures in Kosova are used to intimidate and threaten local Serbs. Local politician Petrovic and Ristic, who ran against the Serb List, state that Kosovo-Serbs in those institutions have been either fired or had a massive reduction of salary for not supporting the Serb List.

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 19d

Yesterday, in his speech at the United Nations Assembly, Vučić stated that people were accusing him of wanting to start a war, and that he was peaceful.

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 19d

In 2023, YIHR identified 250 graffitis "When the army returns to Kosovo" around Serbia. Now 🇷🇸 engineer Danijel Dasic said that State Auditor of Serbia, during an audit of the Serbian Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, found that this ministry spent €217k for the murals.

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Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · 22d

Në çdo palë zgjedhje lokale në Kosovë fillojnë shakatë për asambleistat. Në një shkrim për Sbunker kam folur për rëndësinë politike që mund të ketë asambleisti në përfaqësimin e lagjës e fshatit në kuvendin komunal

sbunker.org/opinion/mes-...

Mes talljes dhe votës: pse kandidatët për anëtarë të kuvendeve komunale në Kosovë duhet të merren seriozisht

Deri në vitin 2023, paga bazë e anëtarëve të kuvendit komunal (asamblistit) ishte vetëm 220 euro. Për vite me radhë, paga e ulët e ka bërë pothuajse të pamundshme që subjektet politike të rekrutojnë i...

sbunker.org

Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · Sep 6

Wanted to read something from Africa and opted for this anthology. The Penguin Book of Modern African Poetry contains poems from various poets of the continent. I especially enjoyed the political ones.

#raftiimehes

Mehdi Sejdiu @mehdisejdiu.bsky.social · Sep 5

Fun-fact there are more Kosovar-Swiss players playing for Kosova than Switzerland.

While Switzerland has only Xhaka (who played for them before the Kosovar team entered FIFA), Kosova has at least 5 Swiss-born players, with Avdullahu being the latest addition.