Vuletic: The Serbs from Kosovo conveyed that they relied on the policy led by Aleksandar Vucic

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.

Once again, Pristina prevented the Serbs from voting in the places where they lived, so they could exercise their civic right in Vranje, Raska, Tutin, and Kursumlija. Vuletic tells Kosovo Online that even these obstacles set by the Pristina authorities influenced the turnout of the Serbs from Kosovo to be higher than it would otherwise be.

"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.

As he adds, they understand this, and these elections have shown that those who think and imagine that alternative policies are possible are in the minority.

Vuletic notes that the current policy, which has been dominant for many years, has significant support.

"In the end, it is difficult to imagine what alternative policy or supporting some opposition group could be of benefit to them now", he explains.

"When it comes to the support that the Serbs from Kosovo gave to the 'Aleksandar Vucic - Serbia Must Not Stop' list, which is expressed in percentages at 71.56%, Vuletic says there is no doubt that this is a message or a kind of plea that the Serbs in Kosovo believe in and rely on the policy led by Aleksandar Vucic.

"It is clear, and one really needs to go on a journey to vote. Some people don't even go to another house where the polling station is, let alone embark on a journey. This is an additional effort and conviction that they don't have another support, and they cannot expect to achieve something in a different way concerning their interests without relying on Serbia", he notes.

At the same time, this is an important message to the international community, says Vuletic, expressing concern that the international community may not be so receptive to the messages that the Serbs are sending, either from Kosovo or from elsewhere.

"They have their vision of what the solution to the Balkan problem is and how that solution could be achieved. They insist on that solution, and it is an important message that for the continuation of the dialogue, the Serbs in Kosovo have the support of Serbia and the current government, as well as the current government of the Serbs in Kosovo", Vuletic says.

He adds that it is also important for the EU to consider 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.