The Serb List (Lista Serbe) has filed an appeal with Kosovo’s Electoral Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) against the decision of the Central Election Commission (CEC) to reject the certification of its candidate list, escalating political tensions following the December 28 snap parliamentary elections.
The appeal was submitted two days after the CEC announced the final election results, following a recount process triggered by suspicions of vote manipulation. Despite retaining its seats reserved for the Serbian community, Serb List argues that the refusal to certify its candidate list is unlawful and politically motivated.
In a public statement, Igor Simić, a senior representative of Serb List, described the CEC’s decision as “illegal, anti-Serb, and discriminatory,” claiming it effectively nullified 42,759 votes cast by Serbian voters.
“We expect ECAP to overturn the shameful decision of the Central Election Commission and to rule in accordance with the law, thereby protecting the rights of the Serbian people, legality, and the integrity of the electoral process,” Simić said.
The controversy has drawn international attention, with the OSCE Mission in Kosovo confirming that it is closely monitoring the developments and emphasizing the need for full compliance with international electoral standards, particularly transparent and comprehensive publication of election results.
Meanwhile, Serbia’s Foreign Minister Marko Đurić strongly condemned the CEC’s decision, labeling it another attack on the political rights of Serbs in Kosovo. He warned that denial of voting rights must not become an accepted practice, adding that Belgrade would press the issue with international partners.
The CEC completed the recount on Friday, after irregularities were reported during the counting of preference votes for individual candidates. According to official data, some candidates’ vote totals shifted by as many as 6,000 votes, although overall party results remained unchanged.
Despite this, the CEC approved the candidate lists of all political parties except Serb List. During the vote, three members supported certification, two (from the Vetëvendosje Movement) voted against, while the remaining members abstained, exposing deep institutional divisions.
Final election results published by the CEC show:
- Vetëvendosje Movement: 51.10% – 57 seats
- Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK): 20.19% – 22 seats
- Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK): 13.24% – 15 seats
- Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK): 5.50% – 6 seats
Within the 10 reserved seats for the Serbian community, Serb List won nine seats, while the Party for Freedom, Justice and Survival secured one seat.
Election expert Eugen Cakolli from the Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) criticized both the partial announcement of results and the CEC’s handling of the situation, arguing that the issue cannot be resolved through political voting inside the institution.
“The decision not to certify Serb List is incomprehensible and undermines legal certainty,” Cakolli said.
The case now rests with ECAP, whose ruling could have significant implications for institutional credibility, minority representation, and the legitimacy of Kosovo’s electoral process.
