The Republika Srpska list has announced the CEC for non-participation in the election-term certificate by 22 March.

The Serbian list, although it has publicly declared that it will not participate in the April 23rd elections in the north, the official announcement to the CEC for this, has not yet sent it. To deliver the announcement of non-participation, the Serbian List has until March 13th, until the deadline to apply for certificate is open until 22 March. Eugen Cakoli from KDI says the election organisation is “infected” from the dialogue process to “vecanti” due to the success or failure of the Franko-German plan signing.

On April 23rd, extraordinary elections are expected to be held for the chairmanship of four municipalities -- northern Mitrovica, Leposaviq, Zubin Potok and Zvecan ) -- and early elections for the two municipal municipalities of Zvecan and Leposaviq. These elections were originally scheduled for December 18th, but were postponed as a result of tensions in the north.

Same as in December, this time again, the Serbian List said it would not participate in the April 23rd elections.

This makes it more clear that Kosovo and the Central Election Commission are trying to unilaterally organise elections in northern Kosovo, without respecting the legitimate interests of the Serbian people, against the will of citizens”, Thursday's statement said.

But an official announcement of nonparticipation has not been delivered to the Central Election Commission, and the deadline for this procedure ends tomorrow.

CEC spokesman Valmir Elez confirmed this for Express. He said this institution has accepted statements for non-participation by 8 political parties.

Starting on March 9th, the Central Election Commission has begun implementing the operational plan for organising extraordinary elections for mayor of the four municipalities: Northern Mitrovica, Zvecan, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok and early elections for the municipalities of the two municipalities: Zvecan and Leposaviq, which will be held on April 23, 2023. I can confirm that by now 10 March 2023, 1500) we have accepted statements about non-participation by 8 political parties: Diaspore Democratic Party, New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo, Pochret za Gora, Socialdemocraticska Unija, Word, Ashkalij Party for Integration, Kosovaki Nevi Romani Party, Democratic Party of Unity”, Elezi has said.

On this issue, Eugen Cakoli from KDI has said the Serbian List should send the official announcement of non-participation to the CEC so that the judicial effects” are produced. However, Cakoli says that if the Serbian List sends the announcement, it cannot afford its candidates to run as new subjects or independent candidates.

“The legislation envisions the possibility of declaring not participating in elections, but conform procedures. So, beyond public statements, the Serbian List must have the announcement of nonparticipation delivered to the CEC office in order to produce judicial effects. After such an evental announcement, the Serbian List cannot apply for certificate in the elections, but that it would not be impossible to afford the Serbian List and its candidates to run as new subjects, or even as independent candidates”, Cakoli said.

Chocolate estimates that the election organisation is affected by the current process of dialogue and success or failure of the Franco-German plan.

“Normically, as the subject that traditionally has the greatest support among voters in Serb majority municipalities, non-participation of the Serbian List will have a direct impact on the election process itself. And beyond that, normally, through influence even by illegal structures in northern municipalities, financed and supported by official Belgrade, election organisation becomes even more difficult. Therefore, the election organisation is affected by the actual process of dialogue, particularly by success or eventual failure in signing an agreement for the Franco-German plan”, he said.

In the event Serbs do not participate in the elections, Cakoli says that postponing elections should not be turned into precedent.

“Kosovo has shown genomeous and constructive, in case of delaying elections during the end of last year. But such an approach would not have to be transformed into precedent, nor normal development, since standards and constitutional obligations for local governance and citizens' electoral rights would be violated. Therefore, I consider that the election organisation on April 23rd should be non-alterative, but learning from last year's” situation, Calcoli told Express.

Serbs' conditions to participate in elections

In December, when they even declared they would not participate in elections they were scheduled for December 18th, the Serbian List presented its conditions to compete in the elections.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, they stated that only that they will not participate in that extraordinary election because the demands that have caused them to leave Kosovo institutions have not taken part in any election until their legitimate demands are met.

Their conditions were the withdrawal of the decision on plates and the launching of the formation of the Serb majority municipalities' Association.

This actually means until he (Albin Kurti) withdraws biased and illegal decisions for reregistering until he forms the Association of Serbian Communities in line with the first agreement and all other agreements related to the issue in dialog”, Rakiq had declared.

The license plates issue has been resolved, so far it is the attention of the association, which is expected to be signed at the March 18th meeting.