What will Serbs vote for?

These are some of the issues that would convince Kosovo Serb citizens, with whom free Radio Europe spoke, of whom to vote in the February 9th parliamentary elections.

In the race for ten seats in the Parliament are six political subjects representing the Serb community: The Serbian List, the Serbian People's Movement, Freedom, Justice and Survival, the Party of the Serbs of Kosovo, Serbian Democracy and the Citizens' Initiative of People's Justice.

However, support from Belgrade, even this time forward, goes exclusively to the Serbian List of Serbs in Kosovo, which was formed with the support of the authorities of Serbia, including President Aleksandar Vuciq.

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric said in an interview for RTS on 13 January that it is important that the Serbian List participate in the elections “to show that we are not pulling out”.

Miodrag Milliq, of the non-governmental organisation active by Northern Mitrovica, estimates that Serbs from Kosovo expect future representatives in the Assembly to be more active, to fight for changes, greater rights and dialogue with central authorities.

But, Olliver Vujovic, from the non-governmental Forum for Development and Multiethnic Co-operation from Gracanica, believes that members of the Serb community in Kosovo will start to think more about the local “environment” and less about high-level policy.

“Can't get any worse than that”
Milos from Northern Mitrovica says that in the past period, party employment or the uneven division of residences for more vulnerable social persons has prevailed.

He expects during the campaign to hear that there will be changes in this regard.

The true subsensity must occur, not just talk about it. This unity means that we are all the same”, he tells Radio Free Europe.

Mladen wants Serbian political representatives to fight more for their rights in the Kosovo Assembly.

“What is now happening with Serbs in Kosovo is below any level of normal living. Many people have lost their jobs and the question is how long will Serbia pay their salaries? I hope something changes. It can't get any worse than that”, Mladen says, also from North Mitrovica.

Since 2013, the Serbian List has won all ten seats reserved in the Kosovo Assembly, which has a total of 120.

Voting for it is organised mainly through institutions where Serbs work, which are financed by Serbia.

However, since November 2022, MPs on this list have not actively participated in the work of the Parliament, due to the <x0bopolis boycott”> At the time, Serbian representatives have decided to leave Kosovo institutions in the north, thus rejecting the Kosovo government's decision to replace Serbian license plates with Kosovo license plates.

To avoid losing mandates and salaries, they have gone to the Assembly every six months to sign.

The Kosovo government, meanwhile, has been working intensively to consolidate power in Serb majority municipalities in the north: Northern Mitrovica, Zvecan Zubin Potok and Leposaviq.

Since the beginning of 2024, it has closed even institutions that have operated within Serbia's system in the area.

Official Belgrade opposes the closure of these institutions, so some of them have moved to the border towns of Serbia and promised no one will be left without pay.

Nemanja from Northern Mitrovica says the time has come for Serbs to understand the seriousness of the “situation and start an institutional struggle for their rights.

And let us hope that this will bring some changes, which will improve life in northern Kosovo”, he says.

What is important for Serbs south of the Iber River?

Titomir from Gracanica, near Pristina, does not believe in electoral promises. And you don't believe that politicians really want to fight for the rights of ordinary people.

I only believe in Aleksandar Vuciqi as [Serbia's] president”, he says.

However, he adds, it is important that Serb problems be heard in Kosovo institutions and seek solutions for them.

I've never seen [the current representatives] in the speaker [in the Kosovo Assembly], I haven't seen them come out and talk about problems...”, says Titomir.

Zoran, also from Gracanica, says better living conditions should be created for Serbs in Kosovo, as well as greater employment opportunities. But the dilemma is whether the political options representing the Serbs can provide these.

Everyone makes promises when elections are, and then everything turns to normal”, says this conversationor for Radio Free Europe.

For Slavisa from Rahoveci, equal employment is also crucial to the survival of Serbs in Kosovo.

He says he would vote on the option he convinced that such a thing is possible.

Our situation is excellent. It's not like north. But young people must be employed. I have two sons. Must be employed”, Slavisa says.

Branko from Prizren, where very few Serbs remain, says he is disappointed by Serb political representatives, because no one visits them and tries to understand their real problems better.

He says he has no confidence in the largest Serbian List party, but that neither has he heard any concrete plans for improving living conditions.

Everybody's interested. Nobody opens the door to us”, Branko says.

What do Serb political representatives offer?

Almost all political options speak of the “survival of Serbs in Kosovo, but from different perspectives and without presenting concrete proposals on how to achieve this.

The Serbian list relies heavily on Belgrade, and since the beginning of the campaign, on January 11th, its officials have visited mainly health institutions operating under the Serbian system and employing thousands of people.

The chairman of this party, Zlatko Ellek, is also director of the Clinical Hospital Centre in Northern Mitrovica.

During a visit to Gracanica on January 13th, Ellek spoke of investments and employment in the health sector, stressing that 1,500 medical and non-medical workers have been employed in the past four years.

Other political subjects that have entered the race for deputies in the Kosovo Assembly, mainly accuse the Serbian List of working exclusively for the benefit of its officials and contributing to the departure of Serbs from Kosovo.

Thus, the subject for Freedom, Justice and Survival of Nenad Rasiq é, which is part of Albin Kurti's current government with my “life slogan in my hands” says it supports the <x2-autnetic policy”, which will protect the interests of Kosovo Serbs.

On the first day of the election campaign, Rassic said the Serbian List has “mishandled resources” for years. He said it is pro-creating a common future “”, not just individuals.

The Serbian People's Movement's political message, led by Milija Bisevac by Zubin Potok in the north, and Branimir Stojanovic from Gracanica to the south, is “Our war didn't stop”.

From this party, they say they will be “the people” and that they will fight for our people, dignity and the future of our children”.

Even Serbian Democracy and Aleksandar Arsenijevic promises it will be the voice of the people and <x0ndre of freedom”.

This party says worsening the position of the Serb community has contributed to the silence in the Kosovo Assembly and the inaction of current Serbian List deputies.

This party promises that they will be more active and that they will raise their voices wherever they can.

At the rally in Gracanica, the Kosovo Serb Party has also said it will fight for citizens' rights and that it will eradicate manipulation and corruption.

The Citizens' Human Justice Initiative, on the other hand, says it protects co-existence, reconciliation in Kosovo, but also freedom of thought and speech.

The party also supports the return of Serbs to Kosovo institutions, as well as promises the same employment conditions without discrimination, better health conditions and preservation of all community rights.

What will be crucial in the fight for votes?

Milliqevq, from the active organisation, believes Serb political subjects in Kosovo do not have much to offer to voters, even though they want “only a decent life and a secure” environment.

However, he adds, citizens, of course, expect Serbian politicians to be more active in protecting their rights. Only then can it be talked about economic progress or employment.

The Serbian list, largely, has lost confidence in the people, says Milliq, and expects representatives of other political options to see in Kosovo's new Assembly.

In the sea of negativity and bad things that have happened, this pluralism is the only positive thing. To be heard a little more than a voice, with no major differences in perception of the Serb community's broader interests”, Milliq says.

The Serbian List has won over 90 per cent of votes in all elections in which it has participated since its formation in 2013, but the European Union's observer mission has written in its reports on “monopol and intimidation” by candidates and activists of this party.

Vujovq, from the Multiethnic Development and Co-operation Forum, believes voters will most likely vote for the option that can ensure them economic stability, greater rights and better living conditions.

He says the Serbian List has priority because it has official Belgrade support and that Serbia, through its institutions, employs a large number of people in Kosovo.

“for fear of losing something, some of the people will probably vote for that option directly related to Belgrade. However, there are still people who are not connected to those salaries [from Serbia's budget]”, Vujovic says of Radio Free Europe.

He adds that there are more than two years since the voice of the Serbian List is not heard in either the Kosovo Assembly or other institutions.

According to him, there are citizens from the Serb community who complain they have no longer been active in protecting their interests.

“should be spoken and co-operated with all to ensure economic security and stability”, Vujovic says.

The February 9th elections will be the first regular parliamentary elections held in Kosovo since the declaration of independence in 2008.