CEC fails to certify the Serb List for participation in early elections

The Central Election Commission has certified 22 political entities to participate in the early elections scheduled for 28 December. However, the Serb List is not on the list of certified entities, while the Nisma party remains “pending,” reports Ekonomia Online.

According to Ekonomia Online, the list of certified political entities does not include the Serb List, which received two votes in favor, two against, and five abstentions.

Sami Kurteshi, a member of the Self-Determination Movement in the CEC, voted against the certification of the Serb List.

“I am against the recommendation to certify the Serb List,” Kurteshi said.

On the other hand, Arianit Elshani, a member of the PDK in the CEC, stated that registered political entities do not require an additional decision in order to be certified.

“I believe that, based on the law and regulations on the certification of political entities, those that are registered are automatically accepted and that there is no need for a CEC decision. I also have another question regarding political entities that participated in coalitions; they should have fulfilled all their obligations and rights. I am referring to Nisma and AAK, which were registered parties,” Elshani said.

Another PDK member, Ilir Gashi, also emphasized that the law clearly regulates the matter of certification.

“I would like to paraphrase my colleagues, but the recommendations of the Office are being challenged, and this contradicts the legal provisions. As stated in Article 16, point 3, registered parties are automatically certified. Accordingly, for me, all political entities are certified. I would ask that you respect this law, or treat the entities one by one,” Gashi stated.

During the period from 24 November to 30 November, 24 political entities — including 18 political parties, three coalitions, two civic initiatives, and one independent candidate — completed the online application form for certification to participate in the early elections for the Assembly of Kosovo.

According to the CEC’s decision, the following political entities have been certified: LDK, PDK, the Kosovo Democratic Turkish Party, the New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo, the Party for Freedom, Justice and Survival, the Liberal Party of Egyptians, the Social Democratic Union (SDU), the United Gorani Party, the United Roma Party of Kosovo, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Fjala, the Progressive Roma Movement of Kosovo, the Kosovo Union, and the Albanian Democratic National Front.

Certified coalitions include: Self-Determination–Guxho–Alternativa–Albanian Christian Democratic Party; the Coalition of the Ashkali Party for Integration–Ashkali Democratic Party of Kosovo–Cooperation Movement; and the Vakat Coalition (Bosniak Democratic Party–Bosniak Party of Kosovo–Patriotic Democratic Party).

In addition, the civic initiatives Ashkali Social Democrats and Civic Initiative for Kosovo have been certified, along with one independent candidate, Nexhmedin Sejdilar.

The Director of the CEC Secretariat, Besnik Buzhala, provided clarification regarding the Nisma party.

“Among the political entities that applied is Nisma. According to the statement of the Office for Registration, Certification and Financial Oversight of Political Entities, this political entity has fulfilled all other criteria except the signature list. Once the signature list is completed, the political entity will be subject to certification by the CEC. The political entity has been given a deadline to complete the signature list by 3 December 2025 at 12:00,” he said.