Kosovo’s ban on Serbian party in local elections raises U.S. and OSCE alarm

Kosovo’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has rejected on 21 August the certification of the Serbian List, a major political party representing the Serbian community, for the upcoming local elections on 12 October.

The decision, which has drawn international criticism, was made with two votes in favor, two against, and seven abstentions, reflecting deep divisions within the CEC.

(The CEC’s rules require a majority of its 11 members (at least six votes) in favor for approval to pass. In the vote, only two members supported certification (CEC President Kreshnik Radoniqi and the Srpska Lista representative), two opposed it (both from ruling party Vetëvendosje), and seven abstained (including representatives from opposition parties like the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, and Democratic League of Kosovo). Abstentions effectively do not count toward either side, so the lack of sufficient affirmative votes resulted in automatic rejection.)

The European External Action Service has not yet reacted to the decision, while the United States and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe have issued statements.

CEC decision and political divide

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 independence in 2008, a decade after a nationalist uprising and subsequent conflict.

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.

Since late 2022, members of the Serbian List aligned with Belgrade have boycotted Kosovo’s institutions, protesting what they describe as pressure from Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s government.

In December 2024, Kosovo’s Central Election Commission initially rejected the Serbian List’s candidacies, citing the party’s refusal to recognise Kosovo’s statehood. However, this decision was overturned following international pressure.

Therefore, the CEC decision could potentially heighten tensions and deepen divisions.

Opposition to certification was led by the ruling party Vetëvendosje (Self-Determination) members Sami Kurteshi and Alban Krasniqi, who cited evidence that Serbian List candidates held positions in parallel Serbian institutions in Kosovo, which they argue undermines the country’s sovereignty.

Kurteshi specifically pointed to Sasha Milloshevic, the Serbian List’s mayoral candidate for Novobërdë, who also serves as president of a parallel Serbian community in Gjilan. Kurteshi described Milloshevic as a close associate of Milan Radoičić, a former Serbian List deputy chairman implicated in the September 2023 attack in Banska, where one Kosovo police officer and three attackers were killed.

Radoičić, a known ally of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, fled to Serbia after the attack. Serbia has since refused to charge or extradite him, further straining Kosovo-Serbia relations. Kurteshi labeled the Serbian List as a party with a “terrorist legacy” that continues to act subversively against Kosovo.

Other CEC members expressed reservations. Arianit Elshani of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) argued that such allegations should be substantiated by security services before the CEC acts, leading his party to abstain. Muharrem Nitaj of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) echoed this, noting the lack of official documentation from security or legal authorities, leaving abstention as the only viable option. Sami Hamiti of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) emphasised that banning the Serbian List would require its formal designation as a terrorist organisation by state authorities, which has not occurred.

International reactions

The United States swiftly rebuked the decision. Anu Prattipati, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires in Pristina, met with acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti and underscored the importance of including Kosovo’s Serbian community in the electoral process. In a statement, Prattipati said, “We believe all citizens of Kosovo should have the ability to choose their elected representatives. We are concerned about any attempt that restricts the rights of Kosovo’s Serbs.” The U.S. views the inclusion of Serbian parties as critical to maintaining stability in Kosovo and supporting the fragile Pristina-Belgrade dialogue.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Kosovo also expressed concern, stating that excluding the Serbian List “undermines democratic pluralism, reduces trust in institutions, and limits fair representation of all communities.” The OSCE pledged to monitor the situation, including any appeals through the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel.

The European Union hasn’t issued an official statement on the CEC’s decision by the time of the publication of this article, though the EU Office in Pristina has urged Kosovo’s political parties to resolve the ongoing parliamentary deadlock. On 20 August the EU office in Pristina emphasised the need for rapid formation of Kosovo’s parliament and government to advance reforms, following the Constitutional Court’s August 18 ruling that deputies have until 18 September to elect a speaker.

As of 20 August, Kosovo’s parliament has made 55 attempts to elect a speaker, all of which have failed, prolonging a political stalemate that began after the 9 February parliamentary elections.

Domestic perspectives

Acting Minister of Justice Albulena Haxhiu hailed the CEC’s decision as a “victory for democracy,” accusing the Serbian List of serving as an extension of Serbian President Vučić and alleging that Milan Radoičić continues to orchestrate “terrorist actions” against Kosovo. Conversely, Eugen Cakolli of the Democratic Institute of Kosovo predicted that the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel would likely overturn the CEC’s decision, arguing that the commission overstepped its authority and politicized the electoral process.

LDK MP Hykmete Bajrami criticized Vetëvendosje’s stance as “false patriotism,” suggesting that such moves distract from addressing illegal activities and governance failures.

Following the publication of this article, EEAS published the following statement:

“The EU is disappointed about the non-certification of 2 Kosovo Serb political parties. We regret the position taken by Vetëvendosje during the certification process.

The inclusive character of the upcoming local elections is key for the future relationship between Kosovo and the European Union. Political parties that have met the legal criteria must be allowed to participate in the elections and elected representatives to take up their posts across Kosovo, based on a free, fair and inclusive process.

We expect responsible institutions to ensure that the entire certification process, including possible appeals, is carried out fully in line with Kosovo’s Constitution, Law on General Elections and the principles of the Rule of Law.

Any exclusion of political actors goes against the fundamental principle of meaningful democratic participation of all communities in the electoral process. We will continue to closely monitor developments.”

Edited by a.k.

Other sources: Kosovo Online, Reuters

Caption: People leave the polling station in primary school “King Milutin” after voting for the parliamentary elections in Gracanica, Kosovo, 9 February 2025. About two million voters are eligible to vote for the 120 seats in Kosovo’s parliament, 20 of which are reserved for ethnic Serbs and other minorities. EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI