Internationals disappointed: EU directly criticises Vetevendosje after failing to Certificate Serbian List

The Central Election Commission certified List Srpska, the largest party of Kosovo Serbs backed by Belgrade, for the October 12th local elections. Voiceless against its certificate were Vetevendosje members who voted against, while those of other parties abstained. The whole drama took place, though, according to all likelihood, the CEC's decision is expected to be rejected by other institutions as it did with this party in the general elections.

Charged with the work of the US Embassy in Pristina, Anu Prattipati, went to the office of prime minister in office, Albin Kurti, just before the CEC meeting in the order of the day, which included the Certificate of the Republika Srpska List to warn that this process would not be thwarted.

It is very important that Kosovo Serbs get involved in this process and we are concerned about any attempt that limits their elections. I've made these points clear to the incumbent prime minister and underlined US attention to this matter”, Prattipati told reporters after the meeting.

Despite American warnings, Kurti continued with his plan through Sami Kurteshi and Alban Krasniqi, members of Vetevendosje in the CEC, who opposed the Certificate of this party by saying that there are exhibits that are also part of Serb parallel structures, but named this party as an extended “hand of Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq, in Kosovo, the Express reports. Periscope.

Eventually, the recommendation for the certificate of the Serbian List received only 2 votes per, 2 against and 7 abstentions.

This led to international reactions that reminded that such acts for the exception of specific communities undermine democratic principles and undermine trust in the country's institutions.

QU The INT reacted with a joint communiqué that prompted the parties affected by the CEC's decision to address the relevant organs for complaints.

The “Embassys of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States, along with the EU Office in Kosovo, express their concern over the efforts of political actors to limit the competition among political parties representing non-US communities ahead of the upcoming local elections on October 12th. Any such act to exclude certain communities undermine democratic principles and erode trust in Kosovo institutions”.

In this response, embassies of Western countries said they expect the government to leave and all political parties “refrain from further steps that could prevent the registration of the parties”.

All procedures must be carried out in strict compliance with the rules and mandate of the Central Election Commission. At the same time, we encourage the affected parties to fully exploit the Anques and Electoral Parasettes panel to demand compensation”.

To this development in Pristina, the European Union, who said it is to regret VVA's stance.

“The EU is disappointed about the failure of two Kosovo Serb political parties. Sorry for the stance taken by Vetevendosje during the certificate process”.

The EU commemorated that the overall character of the 12 October local elections is essential for the future relationship between Kosovo and the European Union.

The “political parties that have fulfilled the legal criteria should be allowed to participate in the elections and elected representatives take their positions throughout Kosovo, based on a free, fair and inclusive process”.

The EU said it expects responsible institutions to ensure that the entire Certificate process, including possible complaints, will be fully carried out in accordance with the Kosovo Constitution, the Law for General Elections and the principles of the Rule of Law.

Each exception of political actors goes against the fundamental principle of the significant democratic participation of all communities in the election process. We will continue to monitor the” developments closely.

Kosovo drew reactions, although connoisseurs of the issue warn that PZAP will bring down this CEC decision, under which it exceeded competencies since there is no legal basis for it.

Eugen Cakoli from KDI said the legal situation for the Certificate of political subjects “is much clearer than any political outcry”.

“The CEC, once again, in pursuit of party divisions, turned election management into political theatre. Today's decision [to Thursday] not Certificate the Serbian List is nothing more than a political act that will be dropped by PZAP. With this step, the CEC has surpassed its competencies and entered the field that belongs only to justice and security institutions”.

Cakolli said anyone may not agree with the political approach of List Srpska and with its role, but as long as the law is clear, each registered party is automatically certified, unless it meets administrative requirements.

Warning of the damage done to the state, he added that judicial practice has been consistent, with almost every such case of non-servation, altered by PZAP or the Supreme Court.

“After all, if the CEC continues to be exploited as political battlefield, it only hurts Kosovo, violating the credibility of the elections and giving weapons to Belgrade propaganda in the international arena”.

The Republika Srpska list has already handed over to the PZAP the complaint about its failure to qualify by the CEC.

Its leader, Zlatan Elek, accused the incumbent prime minister that, with the failure of the Republika Srpska List, Kurti “wants to share the Serbian political body”.

Even for the February parliamentary elections, the CEC's had originally certified the Republika Srpska List, but then PZAP had decided on the opposite.