Gjema: Eight Albanian political groups to run on a joint list in Serbia’s elections

Nexhmije Gjema, a VV assembly member in Pristina, has announced that eight Albanian political groups have agreed to run together in Serbia’s parliamentary elections on October 25.

According to Gjema, the agreement was reached after meetings at Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s office. The cooperation includes political representatives from Presheva, Bujanoc, Medvegja and Pazari i Ri.

The joint list will be called the “Albanian Coalition” and will include Shaip Kamberi’s PVD, Visar Memeti’s APN, Nagip Arifi’s PD, Agim Sabedini’s PDSH, Shqiprim Musliu’s LPD, Sami Salihu’s LR, Armend Aliu’s AL and Naser Aziri’s UDSH.

Enkel Rexhepi, chair of the Albanian National Council; Amina Nuraj from Pazari i Ri; Ardita Sinani, mayor of Presheva; Arbër Pajaziti, mayor of Bujanoc; and Bajram Mustafa and Arben Ferati from Medvegja also contributed to efforts to reach the agreement.

Gjema described the agreement as an important development for Albanians in these municipalities, stressing that the eight groups had set aside their political differences to pursue a common goal.

She also recalled Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s call for Albanians from Presheva, Bujanoc and Medvegja to be guaranteed at least five seats in Serbia’s 250-member parliament.

Kurti made the call publicly, arguing that if Serbs in Kosovo are guaranteed 10 of the 120 seats in the Kosovo Assembly, Albanians in these municipalities should be guaranteed at least five seats in the Serbian parliament.

Currently, Shaip Kamberi is the only Albanian member of Serbia’s parliament, and those five seats are not guaranteed for Albanians.

“Eight parties, one list, one Albanian voice,” Nexhmije Gjema wrote, emphasizing that unity is essential when Albanian rights, language, identity and representation are at stake.

According to Gjema, despite political differences and disagreements, the common interests of Albanians must come before party interests.