US concerned about any effort to limit Serb participation in Kosovo local elections
The United States is “concerned about any effort” to restrict Serb parties from taking part in Kosovo’s 12 October local elections, the U.S. chargé d’affaires in Pristina, Anu Prattipati, told acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Radio Free Europe reported. Her remarks came as members of Kurti’s Vetëvendosje party in Kosovo’s Central Election Commission opposed certifying the main Serb party, the Serb List, for the upcoming elections.
Why is this important: Kosovo’s Western partners have become increasingly impatient with what they view as Albin Kurti’s attempts to marginalize the Serb minority. It remains to be seen how Kurti and Vetëvendosje will respond to pressure not to exclude the Serbs from the political process by the Trump administration where he has already made “enemies” and which is seen as maintaining good relations with President Vucic of Serbia.
Context: At the CEC meeting—where certification of the Serb List was up for a vote—Vetëvendosje’s representative argued that “over 90% of the individuals in the candidate list of the Serb List are already members of the Serb parallel institutions in Kosovo.” These institutions are viewed as illegal by Kosovo. He also opposed Serb List’s candidate for Novo Brdo mayor, accusing him of working for the institutions of Serbia that harbor aggressive and military ambitions vis-à-vis Kosovo.
Another representative of Vetëvendosje added that the Serb List is “the extended had of the Serb president, Alexander Vucic.”
The CEC Office for Political Parties, however, recommended the Serb List certification. A Serb List member said that all the candidates had been vetted and they must be certified.
An opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo representative announced he and his party would abstain.
What else: Ahead of the session, the U.S. chargé d’affaires pressed for broad participation. ihe stressed that for the US “it is very important that the Serbs of Kosovo take part in the elections”, adding “we are concerned about any attempt that restricts this opportunity for them.” She further said that “I spoke about these issues with the acting prime minister and emphasized the United States’ attention to this issue.”
Local elections are set for 12 October. Vetëvendosje also opposed certifying the Serb List before February’s parliamentary vote; appeals later cleared the party to run, and it won nine Assembly seats.
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