Pavkovic: Self-Determination seeks to marginalize and label the Serb List

Milos Pavkovic, Director of Strategy at the Center for European Policies in Belgrade, told Kosovo Online that behind the decision of Kosovo’s Central Election Commission not to approve the publication of parliamentary election results for the Serb List lies the Self-Determination Movement’s aspiration to marginalize and label this party as an “anti-state element” and as a terrorist organization.

As he says, this has become standard practice for Self-Determination, which continued through this vote at the CEC session.

“Regardless of the fact that the Serb List legitimately won votes and seats in the Kosovo parliament, Self-Determination votes against them at every possible step and uses every opportunity simply to demonstrate its position,” Pavkovic said.

From this CEC decision, he adds, another conclusion can also be drawn, namely that Self-Determination is potentially buying time, that is, delaying the publication of the final election results and, consequently, all subsequent procedures for the constitution of the Kosovo Assembly.

“Given that presidential elections are ahead of us, there is probably some political calculation by Self-Determination as to why this is important to them,” our interlocutor pointed out.

He stresses that this represents a kind of precedent, both because of the division along ethnic lines and because of the publication of partial results for the first time in history, and that it is obvious that the attention of the international community and observers will be drawn to this.

He assumes that, before any reaction, the response of the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel will be awaited.

“However, if this kind of undermining of an institution such as the Central Election Commission continues, we can expect condemnations from the international community, criticism, and potentially some additional actions. Of course, this will depend on how things develop, but it is evident that there is a tendency to undermine the Central Election Commission as an independent institution,” Pavkovic concluded.

At a session held on January 31, the Central Election Commission of Kosovo did not approve the publication of election results for the Serb List, which won nine of the ten seats reserved for the Serbian community in the elections held on December 28.

Such a decision was made after two members of the Self-Determination Movement, Sami Kurteshi and Alban Krasniqi, voted against it.