Choosing between two bad options, the opposition managed to choose the third, the worst: to quarrel and divide among themselves. The call for a boycott in Belgrade threatened, for example, the victory in Novi Sad, where there will be no boycott
The paradox of the collapse of the "Serbia against violence" coalition is all the greater because the subject of the dispute that led to the split was only the Belgrade elections. Boycott parties will also go to the other local Kandas, leaving the decision on this to the local committees. Or local committees will participate in them regardless of the opinion of the headquarters.
The damage has been done, but it will be much greater if the boycott-parties and the "fighting" parties continue to settle accounts with each other, fiercely dividing the opposition electorate. Especially if they accuse each other of collaborating with the regime, which would be both ugly and disastrous.
Although the division is serious, it should not be an obstacle for some future cooperation, or even coalitions at the local on June 2.
The thoughtless launch of the boycott idea
The story of the boycott went public prematurely and recklessly. Politically, she was infantile, although it is clear that she had the best intentions behind her. It immediately led to different views and divisions and was a time bomb just waiting for the moment to go off.
In Novi Sad, for example, the opposition had a serious chance to threaten the local progressive government, which systematically destroyed the city. Regardless of whether it would come out in one, two or three columns. The results of the previous elections show this, as well as public opinion surveys.
But what was happening in Belgrade threatened the opportunity. The chance, as we said, is reduced even if all the parties now give up any boycott. Because of the confusion, the opposition's standby regime and sloganeering boycott-rhetoric. Nevertheless, it is to be hoped that in this one and a half month campaign, the opposition parties and groups of citizens in this city will succeed in animating dissatisfied citizens, especially since in previous years they were very active in criticizing the city government and discovered numerous scandals.
In these elections, the government will certainly activate some groups of citizens and support the parties with whom they have been cooperating for a long time and successfully, but it seems - at least according to the results of the previous elections - that there has been a certain political maturation of the people of Novi Sad and that, to a large extent, they will not fall for these tricks .
By the way, in Novi Sad, all "Serbia against violence" parties participate in the elections, as things stand now.
Positive effect
Now, why did the worst case scenario happen and are there any lessons to be learned from all this?
The coalition "Serbia against violence" is a great opposition success in the fight against the undemocratic and kleptocratic regime, there is no doubt about that. However, the fact is that it functioned with many internal contradictions, and that enormous energy was spent on mutual supremacy and positioning. Sometimes she was staring too much at her own navel, it seemed that she was neither in heaven nor on earth.
Obviously, there was a lack of a leader like Zoran Djindjic, who could unite all contradictions and interests with a clear vision. Perhaps, in this respect, some kind of reset of the opposition scene can have positive effects.
Read on the whole text Nedim Sejdinović in the holiday double issue of the weekly "Vreme", which is on sale from April 25
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