Serbian List, Between Powers in Pristina and Belgrade

The Serbian List, from its founding in 2013, with full support from the Belgrade authorities until now, has participated in Kosovo's institutions and the country's political life, with the motto to protect and advance the interests of the Serb community in Kosovo, but publicly declaring they follow Serbia's president's policy, Aleksandar Vuciq.

Dusan Janjq from the Forum for Ethnic Relations in Belgrade tells Radio Free Europe that the Serbian List's blind playoff to Belgrade authorities and the policies of Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, have put this political subject in the position to evade the true interests of the Serb community, which they represent in Kosovo institutions.

The resulting experience shows that the Serb List, half the time spent outside Kosovo institutions, boycotting them and not spending all its time representing the interests of the Serb community, through the realisation of their programme.

The “is quite problematic as to how many people are able to autonomate the interests of the Serb community in Kosovo, especially when the Office (for Kosovo) and the Government of Serbia are not even willing to allow that autonomy. In this segment, it turns out that their movements for boycotting and exiting institutions have had two basic goals”.

The first “goal, to prove the presence of Serbs, especially the authorities of Serbia in Kosovo and in the institutions of the latter, as well as the second goal, to prolong the full normalisation and full implementation of the Brussels Agreement”, Janjiq said.

He has added that the Serbian List is an accomplice that has not been formed the Association of Serb-run municipalities, because its statute has not been presented to the opinion.

Representatives of the Serbian List have refused to answer the question of Radio Free Europe, rather than it will be difficult for them in the new composition of Kosovo institutions after the 6 October elections, to be able to represent the interests of the Kosovo Serb community, defending Belgrade's official policies towards Kosovo.

Earlier, however, Igor Sibiu, the elected Serbian List MP, has told a local media in Mitrovica that his political subject does not hide the fact that he follows official Belgrade politics.

“We have never hidden it and will never hide that we absolutely follow the (Serbia's) president's (Serbia's) policy, Aleksandar Vuciq”, Sius said.

Political development acquaintance Randjel Nojrik, former Kosovo Assembly President from the Serb community ranks, speaks of Radio Free Europe, suggests that after the 6 October elections and the victory of the Vetevendosje Movement, which has declared that the Serbian List will not make the ruling coalition partner, the latter will narrow the scope of maneuvering.

I think that right now, right now, they're going to try their best to protect interests, where they should, and where they shouldn't. It's also a big problem, because they are protected by the recipe or demand of someone who is not directly involved, compared with what you are protecting interests in such a way that you are directly interested in this and are willing to make certain mutual compromises”, Nokjic said.

But Janjik thinks otherwise. According to him, the Serbian List has 10 deputies in Kosovo's new composition, adding one to the Goran community. He estimates that the Serbian List has realised it will not be part of the ruling coalition, but will not contest forming the government, while it will behave pragmaticly.

I expect them not to enter the parliamentary majority, but will only participate in the election of the minister, who will represent their interests, Belgrade and the Serbian List. But, in essence, those from the assembly will blackmail or pressure a weak government that can do (Albin) Kurti with 61 deputies. If they entered the parliamentary majority, then 72 deputies would become, but that is not in Belgrade's interest”, Janjic said.

However, according to him, the decision on whether the Serbian List will be part of the parliamentary majority will not bring this subject, but official Belgrade.

Meanwhile, Nokia expresses the opinion that the Serbian List's game between representation of the real interests of Kosovo Serb citizens and the interests of Belgrade authorities could cost the Serbian List and the Serb community in Kosovo itself.

My “My experiences say that every time I tried to find a common language and direct solution with representatives of institutions in Pristina, we have almost always found compromise and resolution. But if you try to prove how strong you are in interest and pass the lines, then it can be quite harmful to Serbs”, Nojjic said.

The Serbian list, in the past term of the Kosovo Assembly, has had nine deputies of ten reserved for the Serb community. In October 6th elections, this political subject has won ten seats in Kosovo Assembly. Also, the Serbian List is at the helm of ten Serb majority municipalities in Kosovo.