Kosovo governing party loses capital in runoff mayoral vote
ABC News
Preliminary results in Kosovo’s runoff municipal elections Sunday show the governing party suffered a heavy blow in losing the capital’s mayoral post
PRISTINA, Kosovo -- Kosovo's governing party suffered a heavy blow Sunday by losing the capital's mayoral post in runoff municipal elections held in almost two-thirds of the country after center-right opposition parties dominated in the first round.
About 1.26 million voters in the small Balkan nation were eligible to cast ballots in the second round to elect mayors in 21 out of 38 municipalities. Preliminary turnout was 38% Sunday.
The voting was peaceful. Police reported minor incidents not affecting the vote.
The governing left-wing Self-Determination Party, or Vetevendosje!, of Prime Minister Albin Kurti lost the race in Pristina where it had nominated its former health minister, Arben Vitia. It won in four other communes, one more than 2017.
