After the elections in Serbia, Albanians are awaiting the certification of results, while hoping the final outcome will also secure them a third mandate in the Serbian Parliament. Visar Mehmeti spoke this Monday about the representation of Albanians and the issues expected to be raised in Parliament, from the depopulation of addresses and the non-recognition of diplomas from Kosovo universities, to representation in state institutions. In an interview for “Breaking” with Xhoi Malësia, Mehmeti said the hope of securing three mandates remains until the final certification of the results.
Visar Mehmeti: The results will certainly be certified. The elections went well; they were difficult and tense. To secure three mandates — hope dies last — we will wait for the final results.
Xhoi Malësia: How do you see the fall of a government after more than a decade?
Visar Mehmeti: Undoubtedly a positive development, given the all-encompassing rule of the past 14 years. This is good news not only for Serbia and the region, but also for the EU. We have had commissioners from the student list.
Xhoi Malësia: Do you expect a new attempt at dialogue with Kosovo?
Visar Mehmeti: To be honest, the student list, without granting amnesty, since we don’t know the exact structure, did not deal much with Kosovo during the campaign, but with the problems in Serbia that have troubled this society. Kosovo has been in second place in this campaign.
Xhoi Malësia: What about the unity of Albanians?
Mehmeti: There were elections in 2022 and 2023 too, and we were not successful. This time, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, we came together, we set aside personal and clan grudges in order to increase the numbers in the Serbian parliament.
Xhoi Malësia: And Vučić in politics?
Visar Mehmeti: Vučić has no future; he has been completely squandered, having spent 14 years in power. He will not engage in politics; I believe he will open the way for new things, including within his party and the student list.
Xhoi Malësia: Where will you focus your work in parliament?
Visar Mehmeti: In the Valley we have many issues: the depopulation of addresses, diplomas from Kosovo universities are not recognized in the Preševo Valley. People have been forced to emigrate. The police are very sensitive. State institutions are not adequately staffed with the Albanian community. There are many topics that need to be discussed.
Xhoi Malësia: How is the spirit of cooperation with the 9 other political parties in Preševo? There are very few Albanians who are so divided.
Visar Mehmeti: We Albanians of the Valley are different from others. As a new generation, we must replace the political parties and replace our grudges and quirks. There are too many political parties. They multiplied 5-6 years ago. They have multiplied even more in recent years.
Xhoi Malësia: Did the elections help the spirit of cooperation?
Visar Mehmeti: We must separate two issues: local and central. Local issues must be debated and criticized separately. Issues that concern every Albanian who feels from the Valley. Unfortunately, we are divided on local issues.