Dušan Janjić, president of the Management Board of the Forum for Ethnic Relations, has argued that the Serbian List (Lista Serbe) has effectively reached the end of its political life, despite likely continuing to win parliamentary seats.
Commenting on the recent elections in Kosovo, Janjić said that the Serbian List represents evidence of a much broader problem involving not only the authorities in Serbia and the Serb community in Kosovo, but also the international community.
“This is not only a problem of the authorities in Serbia and the Serbs of Kosovo, but also of the international community, which allowed perhaps as a unique case in the world—a one-party system to exist within a minority community,” he said.
According to Janjić, Serb participation in elections has often been driven more by political pressure than by genuine political competition.
“Today we are witnessing the Serbian List’s ritual participation in its own political suicide,” he stated.
Janjić acknowledged that the Serbian List is likely to continue holding seats in Kosovo’s Assembly but argued that representation alone should not be the main objective.
“The goal should be the integration of Serbs and the protection of institutions. The problem with the Serbian List is already known to everyone. The worst thing for a political actor is when nobody asks you about anything. You win ten mandates, but Belgrade is the one being consulted,” he said.
He added that the international community often finds it easier to exert pressure on Aleksandar Vučić and authorities in Belgrade than on local Serb representatives in Kosovo.
According to Janjić, political pluralism within the Serb community in Kosovo is essential and will become increasingly important in the future.
“Unfortunately, the Serbian List has completed its existence. It will be very important to see how Serbia organizes itself after these elections, because pluralism within the Serb community is necessary,” he concluded.
