From spring, through summer to autumn - elections are always around. Why does the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, persistently announce the vote, instead of simply announcing elections? And what political effect does such uncertainty produce
The elections will be held "in the period from the end of September to the middle of November," said the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić guest on RTS.
This is not the first time that Vučić has announced elections this year. It's not even second, and it's not even third. He announces them from December 2024. However, the exact date is still unknown. It is not even known whether he is actually talking about the parliamentary or presidential elections or both.
Why is Vučić bidding on election dates?
Waiting for the elections
A month ago, Vučić said that "they don't call the elections, I call the elections. When the relevant competent institution wants to announce it to the citizens, then it will announce it. The relevant competent institution does not want to say that now".
And indeed, the "competent institution in question" did not want to come out with any precise information until today. The elections were announced for last year, so for the spring of this year, there were also ideas about the summer. Now, here we are talking about autumn.
Photo: AP Photo/Darko VojinovicElections will be held from December 2024.
Associate professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences and social psychologist Ivana Jakšić believes that due to the split between the regime and anti-regime public, citizens read the election date auction in different ways.
"The population must be given the impression that you rule the situation, that you control it, that you have support. In this sense, the election announcement is a signal of power," says Jakšić.
She adds that part of progressive of the electorate strongly identified with the character of Aleksandar Vučić, and that whatever he does will be interpreted in a positive light.
"Even that hesitance from the elections can be interpreted as an expression of strength. They are looking for elections, and he doesn't want to call them now because he can. A large part of that electorate is extremely authoritarian. It doesn't even matter to them when the elections will take place - they are anti-democratic, their option is already in power. I believe that a good part of those people, if it were announced tomorrow that we will never have elections again, would not be upset," explains the assistant professor.
As a special category of voters, he singles out those who are interested in the Serbian Progressive Party.
Photo: Tanjug/Ana PaunkovićPart of the progressive electorate is strongly identified with the character of Aleksandar Vučić
"In other circumstances, I can imagine that they would hesitate in this state of the SNS's power being shaken. They might even think about a defection. But in this current political offer, I am not sure that they see someone with whom they can cooperate in the second largest political force. Simply, the program of that option is high moral principles, there are now a lot of young people involved," says Jakšić.
She explains that these announcements are aimed at "soft SNS voters" and that they appease them, and that anti-regime-minded citizens "whatever Aleksandar Vučić says will simply not be trusted and will continue their fight".
"The risk is that after the new term has passed and the elections do not take place, his soft voters will interpret it as a sign of weakness. But that is a risk he must bear, because there is no other way to expand and protect his electorate," adds Jakšić.
Should you fish on that hook?
According to the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia and the Law on the Election of People's Deputies, parliamentary elections must be announced no later than 90 days after the expiration of the mandate of the current convocation of the Assembly. The convocation lasts four years from the day of formation.
Since the current parliament was elected in December 2023, its term ends in December 2027. By law, elections would have to take place by March 2028 at the latest.
photo: Marija JankovićThe student movement maintains vitality
"He simply dictates the agenda with those election announcements. It becomes a topic that the public, especially the opposition, has been dealing with for some time," says the psychologist, adding that media control and the constant production of political events are in his favor.
"This is a platitude, said 100 times, but it's true: the regime calls elections when it judges that it has a chance of success. In order for this to happen, we saw on the basis of local elections how many financial resources must be invested to maintain at least the semblance of an equal balance of power. I think it is rational to prepare for as long a period as possible. The anti-regime front needs to somehow preserve its strength, to maintain its vitality, which the students succeed in with various actions, events and methods of communication. It seems to me that this is more rational than constantly fishing on that hook", concludes Jakšić.
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