Kosovo panel overturns ban on Serb List party from taking part in parliamentary elections

By Dzihat Aliju and Agim Sulaj

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AA) - Kosovo's Electoral Panel for Complaints and Submissions (PZAP) decided Wednesday to annul a decision by the Central Election Commission and allow the Serb List party to take part in parliamentary elections on Feb. 9.

The move follows a complaint by Serb List, the country’s largest Serbian party.

PZAP said in a statement that its decision can be appealed within 48 hours and noted that the commission should address the matter by following legal procedures.

The commission declined to certify Serb List on Monday, citing nationalist remarks by its leader, Zlatan Elek, who said "Long live Serbia" while presenting the party’s candidates.

Elek had declared that they would appeal the decision.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti described Serb List as the biggest obstacle to the true integration of Serbs in Kosovo.

Germany, the US and the European Union had also expressed concerns about the commission’s decision.

*Writing by Gizem Nisa Cebi in Istanbul