Agreement at the Prime Minister’s Office: Albanian parties to run together in the elections in Serbia

Representatives of the Albanian political entities from Presheva, Bujanoc and Medvegja have reached an agreement to run on the joint list “Albanian Coalition” in the parliamentary elections of 25 October in Serbia, as Telegrafi reports. The agreement was reached on Tuesday at the Office of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, after the meeting of the Albanian political representatives, while Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced that the parties had agreed on cooperation and a joint appearance in the elections.

The elections for deputies of the Assembly of Serbia have been set for 25 October 2026. The Republic Electoral Commission in Serbia has already begun certifying the electoral lists for these elections.

Kurti thanked the leaders of the Albanian political entities: Shaip Kamberi of the PVD, Visar Memeti of the APN, Nagip Arifi of the DP, Agim Sabedini of the DPSh, Shqiprim Musliu of the LPD, Sami Salihu of the LR, Armend Aliu of the AL and Naser Aziri of the UDSh. “After talks and efforts to bring positions closer, the will for cooperation took the form of a joint commitment,” Kurti said.

Also taking part in the process were the chairman of the Albanian National Council, Enkel Rexhepi, the mayor of Presheva, Ardita Sinani, the mayor of Bujanoc, Arbër Pajaziti, as well as representatives from Medvegja and Novi Pazar.

Tuesday’s meeting followed an earlier meeting that Kurti held on 15 September with the political representatives of the Albanians of Presheva, Bujanoc and Medvegja, where precisely the need for political coordination and for strengthening the parliamentary representation of Albanians in Serbia was discussed.

The Prime Minister said that uniting on a joint list is not enough, raising also the issue of guaranteed representation of Albanians in the Parliament of Serbia. According to him, given that the Serb community in Kosovo is guaranteed 10 of the 120 seats in the Assembly of Kosovo, the Albanians of Presheva, Bujanoc and Medvegja should be guaranteed at least five seats in Serbia’s 250-member parliament. “Guaranteed representation is a principle that should apply both in Kosovo and in our northern neighbour, with the same respect for equality and their rights,” Kurti declared.

He also mentioned the passivisation of addresses, representation in public institutions, economic development, language, culture and symbols as among the main issues which, according to him, Albanians in the Presheva Valley face. “Rights and identity are the foundations of this engagement that accompanies the everyday life of the Albanians of the Presheva Valley,” Kurti said.

The Prime Minister added that the Government of Kosovo will continue its support for the Albanians of Presheva, Bujanoc and Medvegja. “The Republic of Kosovo will continue to stand by the Albanians of Presheva, Bujanoc and Medvegja, for their rights, identity and well-being,” Kurti concluded.