PRISTINA, Kosovo — In a significant decision, Kosovo’s election appeals authority has lifted the ban on the Srpska Lista, the principal party representing the ethnic Serb community, allowing it to participate in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.
The Electoral Panel for Complaints and Appeals determined that Srpska Lista meets the necessary political criteria for registration, thus reversing the earlier decision made by the Central Election Commission. The commission had initially opted not to certify the party, citing its nationalist tendencies and strong connections to Serbia as reasons for their ruling.
The appeals panel criticized the election commission’s decision as “inconsistent with the legal provisions concerning the application and registration of political entities.”
Currently, Srpska Lista holds nine out of the ten seats allocated for the Serbian minority in Kosovo’s 120-member parliament. The party plans to nominate 48 candidates for the parliamentary elections scheduled for February 9, a pivotal event for Prime Minister Albin Kurti, whose governing party previously achieved a sweeping victory in 2021.
The initial ban imposed by the election commission drew condemnation from Serbian President Aleksandar Vu?i?, who accused Kurti of efforts to expunge the Serbian community from what he termed “our southern province.”
Concerns regarding the commission’s decision have also been voiced by Western powers, who fear it may exacerbate already strained relations between Kosovo and Serbia, despite ongoing efforts aimed at normalization.
Historically, Kosovo was a Serbian province until the 1999 NATO bombing campaign, which concluded a conflict that led to significant casualties, primarily among ethnic Albanians, and the expulsion of Serbian forces. Kosovo declared its independence in 2008, a move that Belgrade does not acknowledge.
Despite Kosovo’s declaration, Serbia maintains that Kosovo is still its province and continues to exert considerable influence over the Serbian minority residing there.
