Kosovo’s largest Serbian political party, the Serb List, faces questions over its future role in the country’s institutions ahead of local elections on October 12, analysts say.
Established to integrate the Serbian community into Kosovo’s political system, the party has in recent years been accused of undermining institutional processes, raising doubts about its credibility and intentions.
“Only after the local elections will it be clear whether the Serb List has changed its policies,” said Belgzim Kamberi of the Pristina-based NGO Musine Kokolari Institute for Social Policy. “For now, it remains uncertain whether the party will support integration and stability or the opposite.”
Miodrag Milićević of the NGO Aktiv said the party has lost credibility and coalition potential, citing its inconsistent approach and past actions, including the armed attack in Banjska in September 2023, for which then-deputy leader Milan Radoičić claimed responsibility. One Kosovo police officer was killed in the incident, along with three Serb attackers. The Serb List did not publicly condemn Radoičić at the time.
The party has previously boycotted local institutions in northern Kosovo over issues such as license plate registration, as well as municipal and local elections, leaving Albanian mayors in office in areas with majority Serb populations.
Currently, the Serb List holds nine seats in Kosovo’s parliament and is participating in upcoming local elections. It recently appealed to Kosovo’s Constitutional Court over the non-voting of a Serbian deputy speaker in the parliamentary leadership election.
“Rights of the Serbian community are being violated, as well as parliamentary procedures,” said Serb List lawmaker Igor Simić. “The Serb List and the Serbian people are not obstacles; we only seek respect for our rights.”
Kamberi noted that the Banjska attack raised doubts about the party’s legitimacy. “The new leadership under Zlatan Elek has not significantly changed the situation,” he said, adding that the party’s stance will also depend on developments in Serbia and ongoing dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.
Milićević echoed concerns about the party’s credibility, saying institutional progress requires compromise, including the election of a Serbian deputy speaker to unblock parliamentary processes. “It is hard to expect any meaningful rebranding of the Serb List,” he said.
The Serb List was originally created as part of the Brussels Dialogue framework between Kosovo and Serbia to transition Serbs from parallel Serbian institutions into Kosovo’s governance structures. However, analysts say it has increasingly served the interests of the Serbian government and President Aleksandar Vučić.
“Legally, the party will return to the process, but whether it can play a constructive role in integration and normalization remains to be seen,” Kamberi said.
After months of institutional deadlock, Kosovo’s parliament elected a speaker at the end of August, but the election of a Serbian deputy speaker remains unresolved. Serb List candidates failed to secure enough votes, leading Speaker Dimalj Baša to attempt a draw to determine the position. The process remains inconclusive, and the presidency has announced it is reviewing the parliamentary constitution procedure to ensure institutional stability.