Serbia held early parliamentary elections today amid a tense political climate and expectations of change. According to reports, voter turnout was high; analysts believe it could affect the final result and the country’s political future. Albanians from the Presheva Valley are competing through a joint list, while their turnout is seen as important for the number of mandates they may win in Parliament.
More than 6,450,000 citizens are eligible to vote, while 18 electoral lists are competing for the 250 seats in the Parliament of Serbia.
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The elections are taking place after a period of discontent and student-led protests against Aleksandar Vučić’s many years in power.
Political analyst Dorajet Imeri considers the broad mobilization of citizens a factor that could give these elections particular importance for Serbia’s future. According to him, the possibility of political change or a change in the country’s course is significant, driven by mass turnout and the mobilization of society to change the political regime.
In addition to the contest between the government and the opposition, the votes of minority communities, including Albanians from the Presheva Valley, have also attracted attention.
Imeri emphasizes that Albanian turnout is important both for the number of mandates they may win and for the influence of their representatives on the future composition of Parliament.
He believes that the more Albanians vote, the more this could be reflected in the mandates secured in the Parliament of Serbia. If the race between the political camps ends in a close result, Imeri added, minorities could play a decisive role in forming the government.
Albanian political parties joined a single list after an agreement was reached in late September in Pristina, mediated by Prime Minister Kurti.
In the 2020 elections, Albanian parties ran together and secured three seats in the Parliament of Serbia. This time, they aim to increase their representation and address issues affecting Albanians in the Valley, including the deactivation of addresses, education, and the use of the Albanian language.
