Nenad Rašić

Rašić was born on 27 January 1973 in Dobrotin, a village near Lipljan, in the SAP Kosovo, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia. He finished high school in Lipljan and attended university studies in Priština and Belgrade.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-25 |title=Ko je Nenad Rašić čiji je sin pretučen na Kosovu |url=https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/balkan-56188275 |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=BBC News na srpskom |language=sr-latn}} According to his official biography, Rašić holds a degree in economy.{{Cite web |title=Republika Kosova - Skupština - Poslanici |url=http://old.kuvendikosoves.org/?cid=3,102,910 |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=old.kuvendikosoves.org}} In 1997, he started working in the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Lipljan, where he worked as a salesman until the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War when the plant was shut down and never restored again.

Following the end of hostilities in Kosovo, Rašić worked as a translator for British KFOR troops and later for the International Organization for Migration.

In 2006, he was one of the founders of the Independent Liberal Party (SLS), a Serb minority party in Kosovo. On 9 January 2008, Rašić was appointed minister of labor and social welfare of Kosovo as part of the cabinet of Hashim Thaçi and served in this position until 2014. Rašić stated that the best period of the development of the "political being of Serbs" was from 2008 to 2012.

In May 2013, Rašić, along with few SLS MP's, formed a new parliamentary group in the Assembly of Kosovo.{{Cite web |title=Nenad Rašić isključen iz SLS-a |url=https://www.radiokim.net/vesti/nenad-rasic-iskljucen-iz-slsa.html |access-date= |website=Radio KiM}} Shortly after, Rašić was kicked out of SLS. In March 2014, Rašić founded the Progressive Democratic Party (PDS).{{Cite web |last=KoSSev |date=2014-03-18 |title=Rašić podneo zahtev za registraciju stranke |url=https://kossev.info/rasic-podneo-zahtev-za-registraciju-stranke/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=KoSSev |language=sr-RS}}

Following the 2014 parliamentary elections, PDS won 0.82% of the popular vote and Rašić was elected member of the Assembly of Kosovo as its sole MP. Shortly after, he joined the parliamentary group of the Serbian government-backed Serb List (SL). At the time of cooperation with the Serb List, he claimed that Serbs "simply have no other state, nor a higher authority than Belgrade" and criticized Albanian politicians for not implementing the Brussels Agreement.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-14 |title=Ko su Aleksandar Jovanović i Nenad Rašić koji su bili na konsultacijama kod predsednice Kosova? - Politika - Dnevni list Danas |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/ko-su-aleksandar-jovanovic-i-nenad-rasic-koji-su-bili-na-kosultacijama-kod-predsendice-kosova/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |language=sr-RS}} In 2015, Rašić was a candidate for mayor of Gračanica, finishing second to Vladeta Kostić of SL.{{Cite web |date=2015-01-18 |title=Rezultati izbora u Gračanici, Kostić novi gradonačelnik |url=https://rs.n1info.com/vesti/a28459-Rezultati-izbora-u-Gracanici-Kostic-novi-gradonacelnik/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=N1 |language=sr-RS}}

Progressive Democratic Party participated in the 2019 parliamentary elections as part of the Freedom Coalition (Koalicija Sloboda). The coalition initially included European Movement of Serbs in Kosovo led by former Serbian government minister Rada Trajković and the New Party of Kosovo led by Dragiša Mirić. Mirić's party left the alliance because of an election campaign video that Rašić recorded in Albanian language. This video criticized by the Serb List and Serbian politicians.{{Cite web |last=Vojvodine |first=Javna medijska ustanova JMU Radio-televizija |title=Rašićev spot na albanskom: Da zajedno uklonimo Srpsku listu |url=https://rtv.rs/sr_lat/politika/rasicev-spot-na-albanskom-da-zajedno-uklonimo-srpsku-listu_1052793.html |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=JMU Radio-televizija Vojvodine}}{{Cite web |title=Đurić: Spot Rašića biće alibi za krađu srpskih glasova |url=https://www.novosti.rs/vesti/naslovna/politika/aktuelno.289.html:821894-Djuric-Spot-Rasica-bice-alibi-za-kradju-srpskih-glasova |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=NOVOSTI |language=sr}} The coalition failed to gain any parliamentary seats, gaining only 0.08% of the popular vote.[https://www.kqz-ks.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2.Rezultatet-sipas-subjekteve-politike-1.pdf REZULTATET PËRFUNDIMTARE KONAČNI REZULTATI]

On 2 April 2020, Prime Minister Albin Kurti appointed Rašić the director of the Office for Communities.{{Cite web |title=Kurti imenovao Rašića za direktora Kancelarije, Stankovića za savetnika |url=https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2020&mm=04&dd=02&nav_category=640&nav_id=1672042 |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=B92.net |language=sr}} On 23 April, Rašić resigned because of the indictment brought against him for alleged abuse of official duty{{Cite web |title=Nenad Rašić podneo ostavku zbog optužnice |url=https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/452822/Nenad-Rasic-podneo-ostavku-zbog-optuznice |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Politika Online}} and was succeeded by Cvetko Veljković.{{Cite web |title=Cvetko Veljković šef Kancelarije za pitanje zajednica |url=https://www.novosti.rs/vesti/naslovna/politika/aktuelno.289.html:863080-Cvetko-Veljkovic-sef-Kancelarije-za-pitanje-zajednica |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=NOVOSTI |language=sr}}

On 22 February 2021, Rašić's teenage son was beaten up in his high school in Laplje Selo, with Albin Kurti calling this incident an "attack against Nenad Rašić".{{Cite news|date=2021-02-22|title=Pretučen sin Nenada Rašića, uhapšeno osam osumnjičenih|language=sr-RS|work=N1|url=https://rs.n1info.com/vesti/pretucen-sin-nenada-rasica-uhapseno-osam-osumnjicenih/|access-date=2021-06-14}}

Rašić endorsed the Civic Initiative for Freedom, Justice and Survival (GI SPO) for the 2021 parliamentary elections as he was unable to run as candidate due to the indictment against him.{{Cite web |last=Dedeić |first=Siniša |title=Nenad Rašić |url=https://www.istinomer.rs/akter/nenad-rasic/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Istinomer |language=sr-RS}} During the election campaign, Rašić and Cvetko Veljković, together with Albin Kurti, visited Štrpce.{{Cite web |last=KoSSev |date=2021-02-09 |title=Trajković iz Mitrovice: Građani biraju između dobra i zla, moguća koalicija sa Kurtijem |url=https://kossev.info/trajkovic-gradjani-biraju-izmedju-dobra-i-zla-moguca-koalicija-sa-kurtijem/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=KoSSev |language=sr-RS}} The list failed to get elected to the Assembly.[https://www.kqz-ks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2.Rezultatet-sipas-subjekteve-politike-1.pdf IZBORI ZA SKUPŠTINU KOSOVA 2021]

File:Nenad Rašić i Aljbin Kurti 2.jpg following his appointment as a government minister on 1 December 2022]]

On 8 November 2022, Rašić was acquitted of the charges for the abuse of official duty.{{Cite web |title=Oslobođena četvorica ministara bivše Tačijeve Vlade, među kojima i Nenad Rašić |url=https://www.glasamerike.net/a/kosovo-presuda-nenad-rasic-zloupotrebe-vlada--hasim-taci/6825206.html |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Glas Amerike |language=sr}}

On 1 December 2022, Rašić was appointed minister for communities and returns by Albin Kurti after the post was left vacant for almost one month following the resignation of Goran Rakić and the Serb List's (SL) boycott of Kosovan institutions.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-01 |title=Nenad Rašić imenovan za ministra za zajednice i povratak u kosovskoj vladi |url=https://rs.n1info.com/?p=10538882 |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=N1 |language=sr-RS}} Kurti stated that he always appreciated Rašić his "correctness and determination".{{Cite web |date=2022-12-01 |title=Aljbin Kurti: Oduvek sam cenio Rašića zbog njegove korektnosti i odlučnosti - Politika - Dnevni list Danas |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/aljbin-kurti-oduvek-sam-cenio-rasica-zbog-njegove-korektnosti-i-odlucnosti/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |language=sr-RS}} Rašić announced that he will appoint Rada Trajković as his advisor.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-01 |title=Novi ministar u kosovskoj vladi Nenad Rašić: Rada Trajković će mi biti savetnica - Politika - Dnevni list Danas |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/novi-ministar-u-kosovskoj-vladi-nenad-rasic-rada-trajkovic-ce-mi-biti-savetnica/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |language=sr-RS}} SL reacted with a statement that Rašić's appointment was unconstitutional as it wasn't approved by Serb MP's and announced that it will submit an appeal to the Constitutional Court of Kosovo.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-01 |title=Petković: Rašić je Kurtijeva marioneta, imenovanje protivustavno |url=https://rs.n1info.com/vesti/srpska-lista-imenovanje-rasica-za-ministra-je-protivustavno/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=N1 |language=sr-RS}}{{Cite web |last=Serbia |first=RTS, Radio televizija Srbije, Radio Television of |title=Srpska lista: Imenovanjem Nenada Rašića za ministra - Kurti ne poštuje ni prištinske pravne akte |url=http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/politika/5039895/nenad-rasic-ministar-trajkovic-savetnica.html |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=www.rts.rs}} Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petković called Rašić "Kurti's puppet".{{Cite web |date=2022-12-01 |title=Petković: Imenovanje Rašića, brutalno kršenje kosovskog takozvanog ustava |url=http://radiomitrovicasever.com/2022/12/01/petkovic-imenovanje-rasica-brutalno-krsenje-kosovskog-takozvanog-ustava/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Radio Kosovska Mitrovica |language=en-US}} President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić insulted Rašić and Trajković, calling them the "worst Serbian scum", adding that they "do not have anyone's trust in Serbia, but they have the trust of Albin Kurti and Western agencies".{{Cite web |date=2022-12-01 |title=Vučić o izboru Rašića i Trajković u kosovskim institucijama: Izabrali su najgori srpski ološ, niko neće ići 6. decembra u Tiranu - Politika - Dnevni list Danas |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/vucic-o-izboru-rasica-i-trajkovic-u-kosovskim-institucijama-izabrali-su-najgori-srpski-olos-niko-nece-ici-6-decembra-u-tiranu/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |language=sr-RS}} EU Spokesperson Peter Stano stated that EU's preliminary reading is that the appointment does not meet constitututional requirements, but that this is up to the Constitutional Court to determine.{{Cite web |title=Brisel ocenjuje da imenovanje Rašića u Vladu Kosova 'ne ispunjava ustavne uslove' |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/brisel-nenad-rasic-eu-kosovo/32158928.html |access-date=2022-12-02 |website=Radio Slobodna Evropa |language=sh}}

On 14 December 2022, during a government session, Rašić was among the ministers who voted in favor for the construction of police bases in the municipality of Leposavić in the cadastral zone of Bistrica and the cadastral zone of Gornji Jasenovik in the municipality of Zubin Potok, both Serb-majority municipalities. In addition, Rašić also voted in favor of the formation of the organizing committee for the celebration of "15 years since the declaration of independence of Kosovo" and "25 years of the epic of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA)".{{Cite web |title=Rašić na sednici vlade glasao za širenje specijalnih policijskih baza u Leposaviću i Zubinom Potoku |url=https://www.kosovo-online.com/vesti/politika/rasic-na-sednici-vlade-glasao-za-sirenje-specijalnih-policijskih-baza-u-leposavicu-i |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=Kosovo Online}}

In May 2024, Rašić registered the For Freedom, Justice and Survival (SPO) party.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-16 |title=Obaveštenje sa sednice CIK-a: Registracija političke stranke Za Slobodu Pravdu i Opstanak i odluka o uništavanju materijala iz procesa glasanja 21. aprila |url=https://kqz-ks.org/sr/njoftim-nga-mbledhja-e-kqz-se-regjistrimi-i-partise-politike-za-slobodu-pravdu-i-opstanak-dhe-vendimi-per-shkaterrimi-i-materialeve-nga-procesi-i-votimit-me-21-prill/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=KQZ |language=sr-RS}} In the 2025 parliamentary election campaign, the Serb Democracy (SD) and its leader Aleksandar Arsenijević accused SPO of vote buying.{{Cite news |last=Cvetković |first=Sandra |date=2025-02-05 |title=Optužbe o kupovini glasova na Kosovu državnim resursima |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/optuzbe-o-kupovini-glasova-na-kosovu-drzavnim-resursima/33304188.html |access-date=2025-02-09 |work=Radio Slobodna Evropa |language=sh}}

Rašić is married and has a son. Besides his native Serbian, he speaks Albanian.

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{{s-ttl|title=President of the Progressive Democratic Party|years=2014–present}}

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Category:1973 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Lipjan

Category:Kosovo Serbs

Category:Government ministers of Kosovo