Terras condemns Serbia's "hostile and escalating" interference in local elections in Kosovo

2025-10-11 10:07:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Terras condemns Serbia's "hostile and escalating" interference in

The rapporteur for Kosovo in the European Parliament, Riho Terras, has said that he condemns Serbia's "severe manipulation and interference" in the neighboring country's local elections, describing them as "hostile and escalating."

In an article in X on Friday, two days before Sunday's local elections in Kosovo, Terras said that "Serbia's influence and direct interference in the elections have become clear again."

"Serbian government officials have publicly declared their support for a particular Kosovo Serb political party, announced the expansion of the social assistance scheme in Kosovo, and announced new short-term employment opportunities in Serbian-run institutions in Kosovo, in the days leading up to the elections ," Terras stressed.

He called on the Serbian authorities to stop interfering in the elections in Kosovo and to allow the citizens of Kosovo to democratically elect their local representatives.

"Serbia's actions are directly aimed at escalating the already sensitive situation in Kosovo and are clearly hostile," he underlined.

Serbian officials, including Serbian President Aleksandar Vu?i? himself, have made promises to Kosovo Serbs in the days leading up to the Kosovo elections and have called on them to support the Serbian List – a party directly supported by Belgrade.

Four other Serbian parties are also competing in these elections, as well as several civic initiatives, which have candidates mainly in one municipality. Vu?i? announced on October 5 the opening of a competition for 400 new jobs in the field of healthcare in Kosovo.

"This is a very important thing for Kosovo and we will do this in the next ten days, so that people know... and we will always take care of them," Vu?i? told Serbia's Pink television.

Then, on October 6, Serbia's Minister of Health, Zlatibor Lloncar, declared that the opening of 400 new jobs is "news that shows Serbia's commitment to supporting our people and the healthcare system in the Kosovo area."

On October 7, the director of the Office for Kosovo in the Government of Serbia, Petar Petkovic, called on the Serb community in Kosovo, as well as displaced persons who have Kosovo documents, to vote for the Srpska Lista. He said that the victory of the Srpska Lista would mean the continuation of infrastructure projects and financial assistance from Serbia, adding that the Srpska Lista has the full support of President Aleksandar Vu?i? and the Serbian state.

These actions by Serbian officials have been condemned by Kosovo, whose leaders, including President Vjosa Osmani and acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, have accused Serbia of interfering in the elections.

Serbia was also accused of interfering in the February general elections, and the EU observer mission said at the time that Serbia had interfered in the elections by pressuring Serb voters in Kosovo. Serbia was also accused by Germany of interfering in the February 9 elections in Kosovo./REL