Week in Review: Battles Big and Small

Ambitious Plans

Serbian President Vucic, PM Ana Brnabic met the Rio Tinto delegation. June 2021. Photo: Serbia's Presidency

Serbia, or rather its western part, sits on top of some of Europe's largest lithium reserves. The metal is a key component of batteries which are crucial to the success of Europe's planned and much mooted 'green transition'.

If Rio Tinto, the Serbian government and many other backers in Europe have their way, Rio Tinto will soon start mining the metal. But environmentalists and much of the Serbian public have major concerns about the possible environmental damage arising from the planned mining operation. Authorities have pledged to respect the will of the people, floating the idea of a referendum. But can anything really stop the mining project?

Read more: Lithium Lobbying: The Mining Plan in Serbia that's Too Big to Fail (October 25, 2021)

Everyone's a Winner?

Kosovo citizen vote in Municipal Elections, October 17, 2021. Photo: BIRN/Urim Krasniqi

On October 17, Kosovars went to the polls to elect local governments. Yet the election was much more than a series of local contests, serving as an important indicator of support (or lack thereof) for the ruling Vetevendosje.

When the votes were counted, the final results of the first round of voting came as a surprise to many, particularly the self-confident Vetevendosje. The ruling party failed to win in any municipalities in the first round of voting, while opposition parties made somewhat of a comeback. All eyes are now glued to the second round of voting. But what explains the outcome of the first round and the way voters cast their votes?

Read more: Election Without Losers: Kosovo Parties Stay Upbeat After Local...

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