The Vetëvendosje–Guxo candidate for mayor of South Mitrovica, Faton Peci, has called on citizens to participate massively in the second round of the mayoral elections in this municipality.

After casting his vote at “Bedri Gjina” school in South Mitrovica, Peci said that today’s elections are a day of celebration for the citizens, KosovaPress reports.

“Since 2014, Kosovo has established a democratic standard in organizing elections. Such a positive tradition and practice should be accompanied by greater participation from citizens who come out to vote... My message to the citizens of Mitrovica is to turn out massively and exercise their right to vote,” he said.

While he was giving a statement to the media, several citizens called out the name of his opponent from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Arian Tahiri.

Peci described this as a provocation, saying that he is used to such behavior in South Mitrovica.

Today is a day of celebration, I would say. It should be understood as such by all citizens. These are local elections, and... let’s start again from the beginning — there were some provocations, but that’s fine, we are used to such things in Mitrovica,” Peci added.

In the runoff election in South Mitrovica, the candidates competing are Faton Peci from Vetëvendosje–Guxo and Arian Tahiri from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK).