Valley citizens expect more Albanian deputies in Serbia's Parliament

Citizens who have exploited the right to vote expect elected MPs to raise their voices for the problems they face, such as the disappearance of Albanian settlements' documents. In fair balloting there are over 41,000 citizens, while in Bujanoc over 33 thousand.

Armendi Aslan, chairman of the polling centre number 13, at primary school “Ibrahim Kelmendi” in Zünica of Presevo, told Kosovas that citizens' voter turnout is satisfactory.

The process has gone very well so far. The polling centre in Zenica, centre 13 has opened at 7 p.m. under the rules. They're also keeping the rules of COVID-19... There are 1,000 and 315 citizens on the list, but according to predictions there are always half of them, that the lists are inflated, that they are not properly cleaned, and I believe 200- 300 to the end of”, he said.

And the citizens of Presevo by Albanian deputies expect the rise of voice in Serbia's Parliament for their problems. Adi Bajrami told Kosovas that the Valley Albanians need to be represented by Albanian deputies in Serbia's Parliament.

The arrival of Albanians in Serbia's parliamentary elections at the same time in local elections, which are being held in the municipality of Bujanoc, I believe it is very important for many reasons. One of the reasons for parliamentary elections is that we need to be represented by some MPs who will fight for our rights, which for many years we are missing”, he said.

Pensioner Fehmi Shaban says he expects the joint Albanian list to be voted and to have a greater number of Albanian deputies in Serbia's Parliament.

“From these elections we expect to get more deputies in Serbia's”, he said.

The Bujanovac municipality except for parliamentary elections has voted today even for mayor. In this municipality, more than 33 thousand citizens are eligible to vote. Gani Sopi, leader of the 55th centre in the Bujanoc municipality, told Kosovo that by afternoon hours in this centre, over 33 percent of citizens have voted eligible votes.

“at this polling centre number 55 in the House of Culture in total are 900 voters, of which have emerged more than 300, means by percentage points 33 percent to this point. There are not only Albanians here, but all the nationals... in this country everything has gone smoothly”, he said.

Citizens Rabbi Pajaziti, from these parliamentary elections, expects Albanians of the Valley to be empowered.

We expect something better than we're not satisfied, so far they haven't done anything especially for the Valley, the changed Greate of Bujanoc has done nothing. It's getting the country documents, it needs to be worked more. The whole of the mountain has moved. We expect better from anyone who assumes power, but from MPs even more, to raise their voices because of receiving” documents, he said.

Citizen Gani Rashit says a larger number of Albanian deputies in Serbia's Parliament would benefit Albanians.

Parliamentary elections in the Republic of Serbia are especially important for the Albanian national population or minorities here. At the same time for the first time, we have a unified joint list of the Albanian political spectrum in the Presevo Valley. A large number of deputies (Albanians) in Serbia's Parliament would benefit or benefit us”, he said.

For the first time, five Albanian parties from municipalities in southern Serbia -- in Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanoc -- are participating in general elections on an election list.

The Party for Democratic Action, Alternative for Changes, Movement for Democratic Progress, Movement for Reform of the Albanian Democratic Party and the Democratic Party have reached agreement earlier this year to participate in the election on a joint list.

These parties have said they intend to win three seats in Serbia's Parliament.