Day after the elections with the Serbs from Kosovo: We showed that we are united despite all challenges

After the "Aleksandar Vucic - Serbia Must Not Stop" list won 71.56% of the votes from the Serbs in Kosovo in the parliamentary elections, Kosovo Online reporters spoke with citizens of Strpce, Gracanica, and North Mitrovica. They say they expected such results and hope that "things will get better". Analysts and politicians from Kosovo echo similar sentiments -the Serbs have shown where their allegiance lies.

A day after, residents of Strpce told Kosovo Online that they were satisfied with the election results and had expected them. They add that it's good that the voting results turned out this way.

"I am from Kosovo, currently not living in Kosovo, but I think it's good. People are interested in living better and being a united Serbian nation", one resident says, while another adds that the election results actually reflect the will of the people.

"It is probably an expression of the people's will; we cannot judge it one way or another. The people have decided so and voted that way".

Although some believe that "everything will be the same as before because the same party won", according to one resident, these election results mean a lot to the Serbs in Kosovo.

"Well, it means a lot, and it is a lot better for Serbia", they say.

The fact that a greater number of the Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija participated in these elections compared to last year is a clear message, despite all the challenges we have faced in the meantime, that the Serbs not only want to participate in the electoral process but also indicate what kind of policies they support, Dalibor Jevtic, Vice President of the Serb List, says in an interview with Kosovo Online.

"Another message is that as a people, we are united despite all the challenges we face, and I think it is essential to emphasize this because unity is something we need, and that unity, under the current conditions in which we live in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, sustains us. Also, a very important message is that despite the repression we endure as a people, we still believe only in our state – the state of Serbia", Jevtic assesses.

He added that the messages had been directed to all those who were a part of the agenda pressuring the Serbs in the Kosovo and Metohija region.

"And all those who believed, cheered, wanted something different, have now received a very clear message that what the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija believe in is President Aleksandar Vucic and the state of Serbia, and there is no pressure that will change our faith and trust", Jevtic concluded.

The head of the Kosovo District and Vice President of the Serb List, Srdjan Popovic, emphasized that the Serbs from Kosovo had shown that they did not succumb to the pressures of Pristina and believed that the policy of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic led to peace and stability. He pointed out to Kosovo online that Serbs from Kosovo had demonstrated unity, which obliged political representatives to work even more and better in the future.

"Once again, we have shown the unity of the Serbs in the Kosovo and Metohija region. These good results oblige us to work even more and better for every individual, for every family living in the Kosovo and Metohija region. The Serbs from these areas have once again shown that they do not succumb to any pressures, violence, or persecution by Pristina. This was demonstrated by yesterday's elections, where the Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija turned out in very large numbers", Popovic said.

There are no surprises in North Mitrovica after the elections either. Citizens interviewed by Kosovo Online express great satisfaction with the results.

"Great. Just as I expected, although I couldn't go to vote, I would definitely vote for the Serbian Progressive Party. It's great for me. Not that I think so, but 100 percent they will continue at this pace as they have been doing. Congratulations, I don't know of a better one", Radmila Mirkovic says.

The victory was well-deserved, according to Radmila's fellow citizen.

"Excellent. Vucic deservedly won, there's nothing to add. The opposition couldn't win; they didn't have enough voters, and that was known in advance. I don't belong to any party, but I say I'm satisfied with the elections, and we'll see what will happen with us", he emphasizes.

President of the Serb List, Zlatan Elek, stated for Kosovo Online that he was extremely satisfied with the election results because the Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija had shown unity and support for the "Serbia Must Not Stop" list.

"I am glad that yesterday passed in a peaceful and democratic atmosphere where we could all vote, and there were no incidents at any polling station. Unfortunately, I have to note that despite appeals to the European Union to facilitate the crossing of the administrative crossing, none of that was respected. Citizens of Serbian nationality both north and south of the Ibar had to travel seven, eight hours, and more to vote. It is not difficult for us when we know we are voting and standing by our country. The election results showed that the Serbs from the north of Kosovo are always with the policy of Aleksandar Vucic. They showed that Serbia must not stop and that they believe in the president, and these results did not surprise me at all, given that we had conducted surveys here, and they indicated that Aleksandar Vucic and the 'Serbia Must Not Stop' list would win convincingly", Elek said.

Citizens were thanked for their high turnout, despite numerous difficulties, by the Vice President of the Serb List, Dragisa Milovic, who stated for Kosovo Online that the citizens of Kosovo and Metohija had shown their support for the continuation of the current government of the Serbian Progressive Party.

"Firstly, I want to thank our citizens who, despite numerous difficulties and obstructions at administrative crossings, have truly demonstrated their will and determination to fulfill their civic duty by voting. Once again, truly, great gratitude. The results show that citizens overwhelmingly support the continuation of the current government's policy, i.e., the current government led by the President and the Serbian Progressive Party. They are supported by the vast majority both in Serbia and in Kosovo and Metohija. Those of us living in Kosovo and Metohija have shown that we want a politically stable state of Serbia, economically strong, which should continue with ongoing projects, initiate new projects, and, most importantly, employ young people. Young people living in Kosovo and Metohija should see their future here. I expect that, even when it comes to the political situation, the situation on the ground will calm down, there will be de-escalation, and through dialogue and conversation, the best solution for us to envision a future in Kosovo and Metohija will be sought", Milovic stated.

Similarly, the residents of Gracanica, after the parliamentary elections in Serbia and the victory of the Serbian Progressive Party, expect the continuation of the struggle for Kosovo, the calming of tensions in the north, and improvement.

Radmila Mijkovic told Kosovo Online that everyone hoped for improvement, but it depended solely on the political leadership.

"It is natural for every person to hope for something better, but how much better it will be for us here depends not so much on us but on the top", she said.

Zoran Ilic expects the situation in the north to be sorted out, which, he notes, will also impact a better life for the Serbs south of the Ibar River.

"There should be an improvement in the lives of the Serbs in Kosovo, the issue of license plates should be resolved, those illegally elected in the north should return to Pristina, and the Serbs should return to institutions and be distributed in Zvecan, Mitrovica, and where needed", Ilic said.

Another resident of Gracanica stated that the previous government in Serbia had been good but faced significant pressure from around the world.

"Hopefully, there will be some improvement. Our government was good; what can Vucic do? There is tremendous pressure on him", our interlocutor said.

Sociologist Vladimir Vuletic points out that the high turnout of the Serbs from Kosovo in the parliamentary elections is normal because, as he says, they can hardly imagine their survival in Kosovo without relying on Serbia, and adds that, by strongly supporting the 'Aleksandar Vucic - Serbia Must Not Stop' list, they sent a message that they believe in and rely on the policy led by the President of Serbia.

Vuletic says that the "obstacles" set by the Pristina authorities also influenced the turnout of the Serbs from Kosovo to be higher than usual.

"I would say that this also influenced the turnout to be even higher than it would otherwise be, and, normally, it is high because the Serbs in Kosovo do not have another support, and it is very difficult for them to imagine their survival without relying on Serbia. In general, it can be said that the Serbs who do not live in Serbia, who are constantly or temporarily under other authorities, rely on Serbia and generally vote for the ruling parties in Serbia, especially since objectively speaking, Serbia does not have an alternative policy when it comes to the relationship with Kosovo and Metohija and towards the Serbs in Kosovo", Vuletic said.

These elections, according to him, have shown that those who think and imagine alternative policies are in the minority. He adds that it is also important for the EU to take into account that the Serbs in Kosovo have the support of Serbia and the current government and that the current government has the support of local Serbs.

"That connection has not been severed, although many hoped that it could be severed when all those situations were happening, whether related to Banjska or the barricades. For Kurti and the international community, it would be easier to pursue their policy if they had a fragmented political scene, but this support from almost three-quarters of the people testifies that there is actually only one address worth talking to", Vuletic concludes.

Constitutional Law Professor at the University of Pristina, Mazllum Baraliu, stated for Kosovo Online that preliminary election data in Serbia indicated that President Aleksandar Vucic had strengthened his position, and he did not expect a change in the course of the policy towards Kosovo.

"I do not expect changes in the policy towards Kosovo, neither in terms of course nor towards Kosovo, nor towards the West. It is clear that Vucic, his party, and his allies, as they said last night, will not change much, just tactically buy time, and continue with that policy towards both the West and the East, which will be difficult to sustain because those in the West are mobilized. The EU has some policies and intentions; we will see if these intentions and tactics of the West will strengthen the policy towards Vucic, in the sense of distancing from Russia", Baraliu said.

He is not sure, he says, how the dialogue will proceed, adding that he does not expect significant changes. Vucic often repeated during the campaign that there would be no recognition of Kosovo and that Serbia would fight to prevent Pristina from becoming a UN member; however, Baraliu emphasizes that this cannot be influenced.

"Whether Kosovo becomes a UN member or not cannot be decided by Vucic, Serbia, the Balkans, or us. There is a democratic mechanism for voting, and it depends on the member countries of that organization. As for Serbia's influence on joining international organizations, it can exist. For example, publicly, regardless of what Vucic and Serbia verbally accepted, both the Brussels Agreement and the Ohrid Agreement, they were clearly and loudly against it", Baraliu said.