Kosovo’s Supreme Court allows Serb List to participate in upcoming election

Dec 31, 2024 - Kosovo’s Supreme Court has dismissed a government appeal to block the Serb List from participating in the February 9 parliamentary elections, paving the way for the largest Serbian political party in the country to rejoin the political stage after a year of boycotts.

The ruling, issued on December 30, upheld a decision by the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) to certify the Serb List, overturning the Central Election Commission’s (CEC) earlier refusal. The panel found that the party met all legal requirements to contest the upcoming vote.

Controversy over inclusion

The government, led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Vetëvendosje (LVV) party, opposed the certification. LVV representatives argued that the Serb List does not recognize Kosovo’s independence and continues to refer to the territory as Serbia’s "Kosovo and Metohija."

However, the Serb List welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, calling the initial rejection an attempt to "eliminate" it from the electoral process. The party claimed the move was politically motivated and orchestrated to favor candidates aligned with Kurti’s government.

“This decision restores fairness to the electoral process,” a Serb List spokesperson said. “Attempts to silence our community have failed.”

Western diplomats, meanwhile, expressed relief at the Supreme Court’s ruling, with many previously voicing concerns over the exclusion of the Serb List from the elections.