As Kosovo’s political scene reorganizes once again ahead of snap parliamentary elections, part of the Serbian opposition has united in an effort to show that there is “another political voice” independent of the official policies of both Pristina and Belgrade.
Six Serbian political entities will attempt on June 7 to enter the Kosovo Assembly through a joint list called “Together We Win,” competing for seats in the parliament where the Serbian community holds ten reserved mandates.
In the previous elections on December 28, the Serbian List won nine mandates, while one seat went to Nenad Rashiq’s Party for Freedom, Justice and Survival.
Since its establishment, the Serbian List has operated with the backing of official Belgrade, while Rashiq is viewed as a partner of the Kosovo Government led by Albin Kurti, where he served for two mandates as Minister for Communities and Returns.
Now, other Serbian parties — the Serbian People’s Movement, Kosovo Alliance, New Face, and Serbian Democracy, along with the civic initiatives North for All and Roots — say they want to offer Kosovo Serbs “a different political perspective” and become their “authentic voice.”
Zoran Savic from the NGO Aktiv in North Mitrovica believes the Serbian opposition in Kosovo has realized that only united can it achieve a more serious political result and become a more influential factor on the political scene.
“First of all, the unification of the Serbian opposition creates space for political change because, after more than a decade of policies that have produced no results, there is dissatisfaction among the citizens I meet every day,” Savic told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Former Kosovo Assembly MP Rada Trajkovic described the alliance as “the beginning of a sustainable existence for the Serbian community.”
She believes the coalition can defend “the real needs of Serbs while respecting the reality of coexistence between Serbs and Albanians.”
“At this moment, they largely have the support of the conscious Serbian population — meaning those who understand that Belgrade is manipulating them and offering no real project for improving their survival conditions,” Trajkovic said.
“There Is a Need for Change”
Ivan Vuckovic, a municipal assembly member in Leposaviq from the civic initiative Roots, said everyday problems facing Kosovo Serbs were key to bringing part of the Serbian opposition together.
“We will care about ordinary people. What matters to us is that citizens feel they have some kind of protection. As a new political force, I believe we can become a decisive balancing factor when it comes to important future decisions,” he said.
According to Vuckovic, the “Together We Win” list includes political actors from both northern and southern Kosovo, and the coalition required compromises from all sides.
“There is a need for change. Unity brings hope for change, different methods of action, and opportunities to implement new ideas. That is why we decided to unite all relevant opposition actors,” he added.
He also argued that a united Serbian opposition does not suit either Pristina or Belgrade “because what makes us different is that we are unpredictable.”
“The Serbian Opposition Is Politically Maturing”
Savic said the coalition demonstrates a certain level of political maturity and an effort to provide citizens with “a much-needed alternative.”
“Perhaps even more importantly, such a step can create the impression of greater political seriousness among citizens because it shows the willingness of different actors to unite around a common idea despite their differences,” he explained.
Still, he is uncertain whether the “Together We Win” list can seriously threaten the dominance of the Serbian List or Rashiq, since both political options enjoy strong institutional and financial support — one from Belgrade and the other from Pristina.
Over the past year, Kosovo has held two parliamentary election cycles and two rounds of local elections, accompanied by accusations of misuse of state resources from both Kosovo and Serbia for alleged vote-buying.
The Serbian List has faced accusations of securing votes through employment offers in the health sector and financial assistance funded by Serbia’s budget, while Rashiq has been accused of distributing household appliances, construction materials, and agricultural subsidies provided by the Kosovo Government.
A “Historic Chance”
Trajkovic believes the Serbian opposition in Kosovo now has “a historic chance” to build a project focused on addressing the real problems of the Serbian community while establishing constructive communication with the Albanian majority.
“Without the rights of Serbs there is no stability in Kosovo, but there is also no stability without active support from the international community,” she said.
According to her, the policies of both the Serbian List and Rashiq create an opportunity for the new opposition alliance.
She argued that the Serbian List, particularly through its former vice president Milan Radoicic, has burdened the Serbian community with “criminalization and compromised survival,” especially after the 2023 Banjska attack, in which a Kosovo police officer was killed.
Radoicic accepted responsibility for organizing that attack, yet the Serbian List never distanced itself from him afterward.
Trajkovic also criticized Rashiq, arguing that his policies have failed to provide sustainable conditions for Kosovo Serbs because he did not resist Kurti’s policies and instead supported many of his actions.
In recent years, Kurti’s government has shut down most Serbian-run institutions in Kosovo, considering them parallel and illegal structures, removed Serbian vehicle license plates and the Serbian dinar from circulation, and strengthened state authority in Serb-majority municipalities in northern Kosovo.
Members of the Serbian community have described these measures as discriminatory.
Savic, however, believes the Serbian List bears the greatest responsibility for the difficult situation facing Kosovo Serbs today because it has controlled political representation and institutions within Kosovo’s system for more than a decade.
“However, that policy had democratic legitimacy and support from the majority of voters, so the upcoming elections will show whether citizens truly want change or will continue supporting the existing political direction,” he said.
Since its creation in 2013, the Serbian List has overwhelmingly dominated local and parliamentary elections in Kosovo, often winning more than 90 percent of the Serbian vote.
For the first time, it lost one parliamentary mandate in the February 2025 elections and has not been part of the Kosovo Government since withdrawing from Kosovo institutions in November 2022.
