Simic: We will file a complaint with the Constitutional Court, the rights of the Serbian people are being violated

Vice President of the Serb List Igor Simic stated, following the suspension of the constitutive session of the Assembly of Kosovo, that the party will file a complaint with the Constitutional Court, as both the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure of the parliament are being violated.

“The constitutive session has been interrupted, and the reason is the violation of the fundamental human rights of the Serbian people, the constitutional order, and the Rules of Procedure. They are doing this deliberately,” Simic said at a press conference.

He recalled that he had already pointed out all irregularities and violations of the law at the previous session.

“The Rules of Procedure clearly state that the deputy speaker from the Serbian community must have the support of the majority of Serbian MPs. In this case, that is Slavko Simic, who won a legitimate mandate. Unfortunately, the Rules of Procedure and the Constitution are being violated with the aim of, with the support of the ruling party, appointing Nenad Rasic to this post, against all rules. It should be clear that he does not have the support of the Serbian MPs or the Serbian people, since in the elections he won five times fewer votes than Slavko Simic,” Igor Simic stressed.

He emphasized that Slavko Simic deserves support, but that, unfortunately, in the parliament neither the rights of the Serbian people nor the provisions of legal acts are respected.

“We will submit a complaint to the Constitutional Court. I call on all MPs from other Albanian parties and from other non-majority communities not to vote for unconstitutional decisions and the attempt to bring Rasic at all costs into the position of deputy speaker of parliament – a post that does not belong to him, just as he was pushed into the Assembly without votes,” Simic said.

He underlined that the Serb List had been constructive, recalling that other names that appeared in what he called the unconstitutional drawing of lots also failed to receive support, which clearly shows that some do not wish to see Serbs represented in the Assembly, despite rhetorical commitments to multi-ethnicity and the protection of Serb rights.

“We will continue to insist on our position, which is clear: Slavko Simic has the signatures of nine out of ten MPs of the Serbian community. He deserves that post,” Igor Simic emphasized.

He pointed out that until now, deputy speakers from non-majority communities had never been voted on separately, which constitutes a violation of the Constitution.

“All citizens must know what is happening in the Assembly – that the Serb List is not the obstacle or the one blocking the process, but that it seeks only the respect of its rights. We have never interfered in the right of the Albanian people or others to elect their representatives, and we demand the same right for the Serbian people to choose their representatives in elections and in the Assembly,” Simic explained.

He underlined that since he became an MP, and especially Slavko Simic, who has been in parliament for 11 years, the rights of the Serbian people to elect their deputy speaker had always been respected.

“This is a newly introduced practice since Self-Determination came to power. What our people are experiencing today can happen to others tomorrow,” Simic warned.

He explained that the candidate of the Serb List had, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, been submitted in writing to the Presidency of the Assembly.

“We have proposed a candidate, and he was rejected by the Speaker of the Assembly. During the session, the Speaker even forgot to turn off his microphone and insulted MP Branislav Nikolic. In that regard, we expect an apology,” Igor Simic added.

The constitutive session of the Assembly of Kosovo was once again interrupted today, after Nenad Rasic failed for the second time to secure enough votes for election as deputy speaker from the Serbian community. Again today, the candidate for this post was selected by drawing lots, but majority MPs systematically rejected all candidates put forward by the Serb List.

However, there was also insufficient support for Rasic, prompting Assembly Speaker Dimal Basa to suspend the session, stating that the Assembly administration would inform MPs when it will resume, following consultations.

Asked about media reports regarding a woman from North Mitrovica arrested in Croatia for alleged espionage on behalf of Serbia, Simic said that no one from the Serb List knows her.

“Neither I nor any of us know this lady. We want to firmly deny that we have any connection whatsoever with her,” Simic underlined.

He also demanded an apology from Assembly Speaker Dimal Basa, stating that he insulted their MP Branislav Nikolic.

During the voting for deputy speaker from the Serbian community, Basa forgot to turn off his microphone, and everyone in the hall and watching the broadcast could hear his remark directed at Serb List MP Branislav Nikolic.

After Nikolic failed to secure enough support, Basa remarked that he was no longer “in the game,” adding the phrase that Branislav was “currently burning,” which Nikolic found offensive.