Belgrade is once again targeting Serb voters in Kosovo ahead of the upcoming June 7 snap parliamentary elections. Official Belgrade has launched an explicit campaign urging the Kosovo Serb community to vote for Srpska Lista (Serbian List)—the political party directly backed by the Serbian government.
The Director of the Office for Kosovo in the Government of Serbia has claimed that only a victory for this specific party serves as a “guarantee for the survival of Serbs” in the region.
Belgrade’s Direct Appeal to Voters
Petar Petković, the head of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo, issued the voting directive during a gathering of an association from the Zubin Potok region, held in the Serbian city of Kragujevac. Describing the June 7 elections as critical, Petković pressed the crowd for unity.
“You all know that another round of important elections is approaching. I understand that people are fatigued because we have faced numerous electoral processes, a major political crisis, and instability in Pristina. However, our duty is to endure, fight, and remain as united and determined as ever,” Petković stated. “Therefore, this gathering is an opportunity to invite you all to turn out for the June 7 elections and vote for Srpska Lista. A victory for Srpska Lista in these elections is the only guarantee for the survival of Serbs in Kosovo, and the guarantee that we will continue to build and invest in our communities.”
Petković explicitly emphasized that Srpska Lista is the sole political entity in Kosovo that enjoys the full backing of the Serbian Government and President Aleksandar Vučić.
A History of Electoral Interference
This is far from the first time official Belgrade has actively intervened in Kosovo’s democratic processes. Systematic pressure from Serbian state structures was heavily documented in the European Union’s Election Observation Mission report following Kosovo’s December 2025 elections.
The EU report shed light on the structural vulnerabilities exploited by Belgrade to influence Kosovo Serb voters, particularly their financial dependence on social welfare schemes and employment salaries funded directly by Serbia.
“Srpska Lista remained dominant within the Kosovo Serb community, receiving overt backing from Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and relying heavily on Serbian state media and smaller local Serb outlets for its campaign. Additionally, there were reports of pressure exerted on voters who depend on Serbian social aid and employment. Consequently, Kosovo Serb-majority municipalities experienced a relatively suppressed campaign environment compared to the rest of the country,” the EU 2025 election observation report noted.
Pluralism Among Serb Political Entities
Despite Belgrade’s efforts to enforce a monolithic vote, political pluralism persists within the community. A total of four political entities representing the Serb community will contest the June 7 elections.
Alongside Srpska Lista, the ballot will feature:
- The Party for Freedom, Justice, and Survival (GI SPO)
- The Kosovo Serb Alliance (AKS)
- The “Bashkë Fitojmë” (Together We Win) Civic Initiative, a coalition comprising the SNP, SZS, and DS.
Notably, during the last two electoral cycles, Srpska Lista failed to secure all 10 parliamentary seats constitutionally reserved for the Serb community in the Assembly of Kosovo, signaling a shifting dynamic despite intense pressure from Belgrade.
