Why did Serbia and the Serbian List give “to” for elections in the north?

As early as the organisation of this election process of Serbia and the Serbian List had been strongly declared against holding these elections, attitudes have now begun to change. The incident early in the month, which was seen as Serbia's attempt to undermine the April 23rd elections, appears to have stopped. Now the election process is rejected only by democratic means, calling for a boycott.

It seems to have influenced the position of the US and the powerful European countries to hold elections. Euro-Americans' warnings that those who make efforts to undermine the elections will face internationals appear to have been taken seriously by the Serbian List, the largest political subject of Kosovo Serbs, who have abandoned these elections.

Awareers of political circumstances have suggested that, given the current circumstances, no incidents are expected on election day.

Serbian analyst Dusan Janjic has said Serbia has agreed with the Serbian List on Sunday not to create any incidents.

In an interview for RTK, he has said the path Kosovo has chosen to hold these elections is not appropriate.

“This is a political error of the prime minister and president of Kosovo, but this has happened. A boycott of the elections will now take place, and this is inconsistent. But this is in smaller trouble, as the biggest problem is how it will get out of this situation because it is clear that the QUINT has encouraged the Kosovo government to make that move. There's a much more serious conflict management game in the background here, and we'll understand that only after May 2nd,”, Janjic declared.

U.S. for holding elections

The United States of America is the pro-standing position of Kosovo institutions for holding these elections, despite the boycott of the Serbian List.

US Ambassador to Pristina Jeff Hovenier has said his country has not changed its stance on holding elections.

In a response to Radio Free Europe, Havenier has called on all citizens to come to the polls. All attempts to prevent elections through threats or the use of violence will face the strong condemnation of the international community”, Havenier has declared.

He has suggested that the United States, together with its partners, will closely monitor the election process.

Even more clearly in this regard has been US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar.

In an interview for Voice of America, he has said that despite participants the outcome of these elections will be recognised.

“in these elections we have called on and I personally have asked Serbs, the Serbian List, to participate and not give up their role. Not participating is their decision. But these are predicted by the Constitution. There are unfinished places. There are people who aren't taking services from local government because there's no participation. So if these choices are free and fair, and I predict they are, the result will be legitimate from our point of view”, Escobar said.

Serbian List seeks to boycott this election

Finally, Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vucic, is convinced he cannot stop the election process in these four municipalities.

In an interview for television channel “TV Prva”, which is controlled by the Government, has said Sunday's elections in four northern municipalities “will officially mark the shame of the world and Europe.

“Serbs have left Kosovo institutions not because of their whims, either because they were crazy or stupid, or because they want to wear barricades or something. They left because the commander [Nenad] The knee was expelled from the illegal. [Ivan] Todosijevic was convicted of an oral crime, which many Serbs were arrested, who shot at Serbs and even children, and now over Jovanovic”, has continued to say.

A day earlier, the Serbian List also came up with a reaction, calling on Serbs not to appear in Sunday's elections.

Serbian “List calls for the general boycott of these undemocratic elections organised by Albin Kurti in North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic. On April 23rd, all polling will be empty, with which we will send a clear message to Pristina but also to the international community”, it is said in the Serbian List communique.

According to this party, these elections are neither democratic nor legitimate.

“We invite all Serbs in northern Kosovo to remain calm Sunday 23 April and not fall prey to the provocations of Albin Kurti's regime, whose sole purpose is to expel Serbs from the north with the holding of these” elections, is said in the communiqué.

Early in the month, when the CEC had started preparing the 23 April elections, several incidents in the north had occurred. The burning of several cars was seen as Serbia's scenario to oppose holding elections.