While the official of the Green-Left Front Dobrica Veselinović and the president of the Belgrade Committee of the Freedom and Justice Party (SSP) Mila Popović told "Vreme" that they are on the ground non-stop and that fulfilling the recommendations of the ODIHR is a condition for the elections, the executive director of the Center for Free elections and democracy (CeSID) Bojan Klačar points out that the opposition must have a mobilizing campaign, unlike the previous one, which - for now - does not reach the average voter
The holder of the "Serbia against violence" list in the Belgrade elections, Dobrica Veselinović, told "Vreme" that the election campaign of the Green-Left Front "never stopped".
"Yesterday we had a protest in Sremčica regarding the bad condition of the 511 line, which has been going on for several years. In the previous days, our activists participated at the stands of the "Serbia against violence" coalition, but also at the protests held in Belgrade. In addition to Sremčica, there were large protests in Block 63, as well as on Bežanijska Kosa. This weekend we will have a planting campaign around the city, so even though the government is trying to show that the issues of Serbia and Kosovo are being discussed in Belgrade, it is obvious that the citizens do not want that. The government has not solved any serious problems in the capital," says Veselinović and adds that in the coming period, the focus will be on the local problems of the people of Belgrade.
To the statement that the general impression is that the opposition's campaign does not reach a large number of citizens, he replies that activists are on the ground non-stop, as well as that the Green-Left Front made an immeasurable contribution to the change of government of the Serbian Progressive Party.
"I speak primarily on behalf of the Green-Left Front." As an organization, we have made an immeasurable contribution to do everything in our power to change SNS. I know that colleagues from other organizations do the same. As for the specific candidate for mayor in the elections, there has been no word on that yet. Our focus is on improving election conditions," says the interlocutor of "Vremena".
He reiterates the position of the "Serbia against violence" coalition, in order for elections to take place, it is necessary to revise the voter list.
"If everything remains the same, I don't see that it is wise to repeat everything from the beginning... Before we enter into discussions about specific names on the list, the most important thing is to finish correcting electoral irregularities and everything that is a prerequisite for fair and honest elections." In the end, we from the Green-Left Front have shown that functions are not important to us, our priority is to change the regime," said Veselinović.
Popović: The most important thing is to fight for the election conditions
The President of the Belgrade Committee of the Freedom and Justice Party (SSP), Mila Popović, points out to "Vreme" that the most important thing is to fight for better voting conditions now.
"The most important thing is to implement all the recommendations of the ODIHR. I remind you that the "Serbia against violence" coalition, together with the NADA coalition and ProGlas, signed a document with clear demands on what needs to be fulfilled in order for the elections to be fair and honest. Otherwise - there is no choice. What we are doing now, and what can be put under the campaign, is to constantly talk to the citizens," says Popović.
He adds that they are now additionally clarifying to the citizens their demands for better election conditions, the recommendations of the ODIHR, as well as the recommendations of the European Parliament.
"Citizens must vote freely and express their will despite electoral engineering and theft." I will remind you that the opposition in Belgrade already won, it got more votes, and the SNS could not constitute the government. This is the second time this has happened in Belgrade. "Simply, Belgrade won't want them," emphasizes Popović.
When asked what she will do specifically if the government does not fulfill the demands of the opposition, she answers: "The coalition will adopt a position even if it comes to that." If it does not happen, it is no longer an election and there is no question of it. However, I am sure that the election conditions will change. I don't know if anyone in Belgrade could have believed after December 17 that two months later they would be discussing in the European Parliament about the theft of elections in Serbia. That the Resolution of the European Parliament will come out and that we will be on the threshold of the arrival of the commission that will investigate what happened. Therefore, I am convinced that we will fight for the conditions, that the citizens will rise to them and that we will win".
Klačar: Voters are tired, the opposition has no formal campaign
The executive director of the Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID) Bojan Klačar assesses for "Vreme" that we can notice two trends, that the government has raised the campaign for the Belgrade elections to the national level and that at this stage the SNS insists on personal contact, i.e. "door to door" campaign.
"The government and the opposition will have to be a little different in this campaign than they were in December, because the voters, both the government and the opposition, are tired." I'm not sure how voters will react to a normal campaign that should include commercials, stands and some kind of tribunes. I think that both the government and the opposition will have to be a little more creative," warns Klačar.
He explains that the main goal of the parties will be how to raise their own voters from apathy.
"As far as the opposition is concerned, it does not formally have any campaign. Outlines of some messages are not visible, more serious activities are not visible. And that's the perspective of the average voter. It is undeniable that they have some activities, but it seems to me that it has not yet been packaged in the form of a campaign. The point is not the stands, but to see the outlines of some kind of visual identity as well as specific messages," says Klačar.
He states that the main message to the opposition will be the irregularities in the last elections and that they will build their campaign on allegations of election theft and abuses that took place in December.
"The opposition will try to motivate its voters on that topic." At the moment I don't see any other candidate from the opposition. And as time goes on, I believe that they, as well as the government, will have to find an answer to the voter apathy that exists. "It is estimated that a large number of voters are not very interested in the elections at this moment," underlines Klačar.
He estimates that the campaign will intensify at the end of April, as well as that a referendum atmosphere will be created on both sides.
"It will not be an incentive for some other parties in the opposition, as well as for those parties that are close to the ruling coalition." Experience teaches us that when we have two dominant lists in Serbia, which are very popular, the space for other actors will be very small. People make decisions strategically. So, whenever we have some options that are close or similar, people choose the option that can make a better result," says Klačar.
He said that the campaigns made by the parties must be mobilizing, because "it is no longer a question of whether people will vote, but whether the campaigns will sufficiently activate the voters."
"The most important question is whether they will manage to get the voters to the polls at all." That's why campaigns must be like a serious action. Voter identification with political parties is firm, people who voted for SNS will not vote for the coalition Serbia against violence and vice versa. Therefore, I will repeat what seems to me to be the key to everything - what type of campaign will be and whether the parties will be able to mobilize voters," concludes Klačar.
Only the court can determine who caused injuries to whom, said lawyer Edvin S. Prelić, reacting to the claims of the Kreni-promeni movement that Aelksandar Šapić caused serious physical injuries to councilor Tatjana Mićić
The student plan calls for six months of voluntary military service, better conditions for members of the military, investment in equipment and the defense industry, an investigation into early deaths and numerous other changes.
The student list is asking for an investigation into the origin of the fake document, which threatens with the confiscation of pensions and prison sentences. The Ministry of Finance confirmed that the statements in the document are false
The students in the blockade of DUNP reported to the disciplinary prosecutor two Novi Pazar judges for attending the SNS pre-election rally. They say that such behavior undermines the independence of the judiciary
Consultations are being held in the House of the National Assembly on Friday before the constitution of the new convocation
At the moment when the institutions of the Republic are destroyed, when Vučić's octopus is still alive, when people are disgusted by the injustice and the stench left behind by the Essenes regime, we have, as Machiavelli said, only civic virtue as the fuel with which we can return to the beginning
The four independent members of REM are an example of perseverance and civic responsibility. Rodoljub Šabić even, upon leaving the premises of REM, after the sentencing of the Informer, experienced that the Essenes insulted him, hit him with their hands and feet. But that too will soon be over
Vučić pardoned the batterers and Dijana Hrkalović. The election winners should abolish the sultan's power that allows one man to run afoul of the entire judicial system
Interview: Branko Stamenković, public prosecutor of the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office
A black picture and the breakdown of the rule of law subscribeThe archive of the weekly Vreme includes all our digital editions, since the very beginning of our work. All issues can be downloaded in PDF format, by purchasing the digital edition, or you can read all available texts from the selected issue.
See all
