Kosovo confirms Serbian parties’ participation in the October elections

Kosovo’s electoral process has reached a critical juncture as the Central Electoral Commission (CIK) in Pristina officially approved the participation of Srpska Lista and Srpska Demokratija in the local elections scheduled for 12 October.

This decision follows weeks of intense political and legal disputes, underscoring the persistent polarization surrounding Serbian representation in Kosovo’s institutions.

CIK President Kreshnik Radoniqi announced on 1 September that the Commission has aligned with rulings from the Electoral Commission for Objections and Complaints (ECAP) and the Supreme Court of Pristina, which upheld the eligibility of both Serbian parties. “We have two final decisions – A3/25 for Srpska Lista and A6/25 for Srpska Demokratija, along with Supreme Court confirmation that no further legal obstacles remain,” Radoniqi stated.

Initially, the CIK rejected Srpska Lista’s candidate certifications, citing non-compliance with legal requirements.

This sparked accusations of “illegal and discriminatory action” from the party, which noted that the Service for Registration, Certification, and Financial Control of Political Subjects had recommended accepting their nominations by 20 August.

On 24 August ECAP overturned CIK’s decision, mandating candidate validation. The Prime Minister’s party, Vetëvendosje (Self-Determination), appealed to the Supreme Court on 26 August, but the court dismissed the objection, affirming the participation of Serbian parties within Kosovo’s legal framework.

The Pristina government accuses the Serbian List of engaging in smuggling, money laundering, and exerting authoritarian control over its territory. It also alleges the group orchestrates protests and roadblocks in the volatile, predominantly Serb-populated northern Kosovo.

This is not the first instance of contention over Serbian political participation. In the February 2024 parliamentary elections, Vetëvendosje similarly attempted to block Srpska Lista’s certification, only for the Supreme Court to intervene and allow their participation. This pattern highlights a lack of political consensus and the recurring use of institutional mechanisms for political leverage.

Kosovo is predominantly inhabited by ethnic Albanians. However, approximately 50,000 Serbs in the northern region reject the authority of the Pristina government and consider Belgrade their capital. Formerly a Serbian province, Kosovo declared unilaterally independence in 2008, a decade after a nationalist uprising and subsequent conflict. Five EU countries – Spain, Romania, Greece, Cyprus and Slovenia – don’t recognise Kosovo’s independence.

Over the past decade, the Serbian List has consistently secured all ten parliamentary seats reserved for Kosovo’s Serbian minority under the Constitution. Backed by Belgrade, the party has wielded significant influence over the Serbian community, often using coercive tactics such as threatening voters with job losses or the withdrawal of social benefits provided by Serbia.

The controversy is further complicated by ongoing parliamentary gridlock in Kosovo.

The recent election of Dimal Basha as parliamentary speaker on 26 August after 58 failed attempts resolved a six-month political crisis that stalled Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s efforts to form a new government following inconclusive February elections. Basha, from Kurti’s Vetëvendosje party, secured 73 votes in the 120-seat parliament after more than 50 rounds of voting.

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The failure to elect a vice-president from the Serbian community has drawn criticism from analysts, who argue that this violates the Constitution and undermines Kosovo’s international credibility.

The dispute over Serbian parties’ electoral participation exacerbates this instability, revealing deeper structural issues within Kosovo’s political system.

Analysts in Pristina warn that the controversy could shape the electoral climate and the functionality of local institutions, where Serbian representation is vital for political balance.

International observers, including the EU and the Quint (USA, UK, France, Germany, and Italy), have expressed concerns about the credibility of Kosovo’s electoral framework and its commitment to equitable participation for all communities.

In December 2024, the Quint and the EU criticized the CIK’s initial ban on Srpska Lista, urging Kosovo’s government to ensure the party’s inclusion in the October elections.

Tensions escalated after Prime Minister Albin Kurti assumed office in 2021, prompting the Serbian List to boycott local elections. Consequently, Pristina appointed four Albanian mayors in Serb-majority municipalities – Zvecan, Zubin Potok, Leposavic, and North Mitrovica, sparking clashes in 2023. The situation peaked in September 2023 when Serbs, led by Serbian List deputy leader Milan Radojčić, ambushed a Kosovo police patrol near a monastery in Banska, northern Kosovo, resulting in the deaths of one Kosovo police officer and three attackers.

With the ratification of Srpska Lista and Srpska Demokratija’s participation, the 12 October elections are set to test the resilience of Kosovo’s political system at a time when EU enlargement fatigue plays in the hand of external geopolitical players.

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Sources: IBNA and Reuters

Caption: Incumbent Prime Minister and leader of ‘Vetevendosje’ party, Albin Kurti (C) addresses the media after winning the parliamentary elections in Pristina, Kosovo, 09 February 2025. The Republic of Kosovo held the parliamentary elections with Kurti’s party leading with 42 percent of the vote, a drop from the 50 percent Kurti received in 2021. EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI