Serbian Minority Elections

The Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) announced the results of the elections for the national councils of minority groups held on November 8, with the Roma and Vlach minority councils winning all available mandates. The Roma national council’s list, “United Roma for United Serbia,” received 6,284 votes, while the Vlach council’s list, “United Vlachs for United Serbia,” garnered 3,527 votes.

RIK also annulled voting at five polling stations due to irregularities, with re-elections planned for the Albanian, Bunjevac, and Hungarian minority councils.

Organizations Institute for Social Inclusion and Human Rights House in Serbia called for a broader public debate and independent analysis regarding the legitimacy of newly elected national councils of minority communities after elections held on November 8. They emphasized that the elections should not merely replace one political party’s influence with another, but rather ensure that national councils operate independently and responsibly in the interest of the communities they represent.

Concerns were raised about the democratic legitimacy of the newly elected councils, citing reduced voter participation among minority communities, particularly a significant drop in votes from the Roma community.

Salih Saitović, president of the Democratic Union of Roma, expressed support for the Student List’s initiatives aimed at depoliticizing the public sector and reviewing controversial employment practices in Serbia.

He highlighted the historical marginalization of the Roma community under the Serbian Progressive Party, emphasizing the need for a fundamental change in the state’s relationship with its citizens.

Saitović called for fair job opportunities based on qualifications rather than political connections, advocating for genuine integration of Roma into society and politics.