For the first time ever, Albanian parties in the Presevo Valley have joined forces and will run in a single coalition in Serbia’s general election.

Leaders of political entities from Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, which have formed the Albanian Democratic Alternative – United Valley, aim to win three seats in the Serbian Parliament, one of which is currently controlled by the Party for Democratic Action.

However, the objective may be difficult to achieve given the fact that the participation of the Albanian minority in Serbia in the electoral process has been low.

In total, there are 5 parties that have accepted this alliance, an idea existent in previous electoral processes, yet differences between the parties have led to the failure of a potential union.

Members of the Albanian minority, urged by political leaders boycotted the census in 2011, and therefore the exact number of Albanians in Serbia is not known.

However, the leaders of the Albanian parties are optimistic and state that their goal is for the Albanians of Serbia to have equal rights with the Serbian citizens, especially in terms of education, culture and economic development.