Does the Serbian List have future in Kosovo institutions?

From an instrument for the integration of the Serb community into Kosovo society, to an inflammatory in its deintegration.

That's how you see the street of Serbian List Belgzim Kamberi from the nongovernmental Institute for Social Policy “Musine Koklari” in Pristina.

Only after the October 12th local elections will it be seen if it has already changed its attitudes and policies.

For now, according to Camber, it remains unclear whether this major party of Serbs in Kosovo, supported by Belgrade, will contribute to strengthening stability and co-existence, or will continue with a destructive policy that promotes distrust.

On the other hand, Miodrag Milliqevic from nongovernmental organisation “Asset” in northern Mitrovica estimates that the Serbian List has already lost the credibility and ability to make coalitions, and that this would not change even the possible changes of frameworks within it.

He stresses that this situation is largely the result of the armed attack on Banjska, in 2023, but also of actions according to principle <x0).

The responsibility for the attack on Zvecan Banjska received then Serbian List Deputy Chairman Milan Radojic.

The Serbian List did not make any statements concerning the attack, where one Kosovo policeman was killed, while in the subsequent armed clashes, three Serb attackers were also killed.

The Serbian list was not even distanced from Radoviciqi, who until then protected it constantly.

In November 2022, this party abandoned Kosovo institutions in the north of the country because of the Kosovo Government's decision to replace Serbian car plates with those of Kosovo.

Later, in April 2023, she called for boycotting local elections and later for boycotting the vote for the replacement of Albanian mayors of majority Serb municipalities.

Therefore, Albanian leaders, who are not accepted by the Serb majority population, remained in power in northern Mitrovica, Zvecan, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok until the end of their mandates.

The Serbian list, however, was restored to election processes.

Currently, there are 9 deputies in the Kosovo Assembly and will also participate in local elections, scheduled for 12 October.

Last week, she addressed the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, because the deputy head of the Parliament by the Serb community was not voted in a package with the next candidate for deputy chairmanship by non-Serb minority communities.

Kosovo Parliament Speaker Dimal Basha concluded the constitutional session on August 30th, even though the Serbian deputy chairman was not elected.

Is “rehabilitation” possible from the Serbian List?

Free Radio Europe asked the Serbian List if it has difficulty operating within Kosovo institutions and whether it would change party policies or structures, but received no answers.

After last week's Parliament hearing, the party's deputy, Igor Symen, said that the rights of the Serb community are being violated, as well as constitutional order and regulation of the Parliament's work.

Serbia's <x0List and Serbian people are no obstacle, nor is anyone who wants to block the processes. All we ask is that our rights be respected”, Sim enemies said.

Speaking to Radio Free Europe, Kamberi says the armed attack on Banjska has opened the dilemma about the Serbian List and that its new leadership, with Zlatan Elek at the helm, has not changed the situation much.

We will see how the Serbian List will behave after it returns to power at the local level [in northern Kosovo], what kind of relationship it will have with official Pristina... The Serbian List's stances will also depend on the dialogue process, but also on developments in Serbia. If the SNS [Serbian Progressive Party] remains in power, we will see what the Serbian List would suggest. If the government changes there, it remains to be seen whether it will support the concept of the Serbian List or any other political party”, Kamberi says.

Milliqevic does not believe changes within the Serbian List could positively influence the credibility of this party.

He says political parties must find a compromise solution and elect the deputy head of the Parliament from the Serb community so that this blockade is resolved.

It is difficult to expect any re-ordination of the Serbian List, but it also makes no sense to refuse voting for people who are not directly responsible for any event. If it's still used as a topic for who's being seen with who in some photographs, who's met with who for a coffee... know these stories don't belong in the country”, estimates Milliq.

After several months of institutional blockades, the Kosovo Assembly chairman was elected in late August, but the problem continued with the election of deputy leader from the Serb community.

After the Serbian List refused to change its candidate, Slavko Simi, who failed to secure enough votes in three rounds of voting, Parliament Speaker Basha decided to specify the new name by lots.

Even other Serbian candidates did not get the necessary votes, and he closed the constitutional session.

Kosovo's presidency said it is making a “analysis” of the Assembly Constitution Process and that President Vjosa Osmani will act in line with Constitution and laws in force, in order to ensure institutional stability and respect the will of Kosovo citizens. /Periscopi/