Opinion
Belgrade changes its government, not yet its stance on Kosovo
The Student List's victory is good news for Serbian democracy. But Tirana and Pristina should read its program, not just the congratulations.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 26, 2026, 18:30 · Updated 18:41 · 2 min read
Serbia voted on Sunday with turnout of about 68.8%, far higher than in 2023, and gave the Student List 52.71% of the vote and 140 of 250 seats. A movement born of the protests after the deadly collapse of the station canopy in Novi Sad, which lasted nearly two years, turned the energy of the street into votes. That deserves respect. Vučić conceded, but blamed “some European countries” and the “American deep state”: an excuse, not an analysis.
The congratulations came quickly. Von der Leyen and Costa spoke of the EU's readiness to help, Marta Kos said “the EU's door is open,” and Merz promised active support. Tirana congratulated the winners and especially the Albanians of the Preševo Valley, whom projections give two seats, while President Begaj asked that the result be turned “into more rights, equality and an end to discrimination.”
But on Kosovo, the winners' program promises no turnaround. The list's memorandum describes Kosovo as an “inalienable and constituent” part of Serbia; during the campaign its candidates called for a review of all the dialogue agreements and for returning the status question to the U.N. Their criticism of Vučić concerns how he handled the license plates, the dinar and the Serbian institutions, not recognition. Analysts quoted by RFE/RL expect no quick change.
This calls for clarity from everyone. Tirana's statement rightly places the responsibility on Belgrade, but congratulations are no substitute for measurable expectations. Pristina, with Kurti's condition on Radoičić's extradition, should be ready not to hand the newcomers pretexts. And the EU, as it opens the door, should remind Belgrade that normalization with Kosovo is part of the same road, alongside the rule of law and media freedom.
Our proposal: Tirana and Pristina should jointly ask the EU to make implementation of the agreements already reached, not their renegotiation, the first standard by which Serbia's new government is measured. Meanwhile, Tirana should treat the Preševo Valley's lawmakers as a direct bridge to the new parliament, not merely as a reason for congratulations.
