The highest parliamentary functionary, Ana Brnabić, offered the world and Serbia good services in order to solve the problem with the so-called Mrdić's laws, because of which the country received a series of slaps from the Western Hemisphere. And there is one rule: when Ana gets involved, the problem only grows. And then at some point, during the break, she announced regular elections in nine local governments. The multifunctional Brnabić ordered that on March 29 the citizens of Bor (the only one that is run as a city), Arandjelovac, Bajina Bašta, Kladovo, Knjaževac, Kula, Lucan, Majdanpek and Smederevska Palanka - they have to elect councilors of their assemblies.
In normal states, citizens they dial locally those who are judged to be best able to achieve the things of daily life, effectively manage communal, infrastructural, administrative and other service tasks. If they don't do it properly, they will soon be thanked for their cooperation. In many democratic countries, even those who do not have citizenship, but live there, have the right to participate in local elections. residence and pay local tax. The system there says: if you pay taxes, you have the right to have someone represent you! Because it is not high politics, but a matter of "politics of the place of residence". It can be said that the best indicator of both democracy and political literacy of a country is the most diverse (party) structure of government in local self-governments.
In Serbia, of course, things are somewhat different. In the systems of capillary autocracies there is no place for the "other". Progressives strive for total power, from the top of the state to the president of the house council or the head of cleanliness in a public institution. They perceive politics as a war in which you have to bring your opponent to his knees. In addition, you must not have obstacles and inconvenient witnesses in the distribution of power, money and crime. Since their politics is the politics of impressions, all elections have a symbolic significance. One must not show weakness, because people are with the progressives in many cases precisely because of the impression of their invincibility. It will scatter otherwise.
Progressives know that the rules of chaos theory apply here (since they created and caused it here, wherever they could). The sweep of a butterfly's wing in Brazil can produce a tornado in Texas. Thus, the loss of the election in Bajana Bašta can lead to a change in the state government.
In this sense, all elections are "fated", even those for local communities, in which parties should not even participate. That is why, for example, elections are not announced for local communities in Novi Sad, which is, of course, illegal. But who cares about laws here! They know that they would do very, very poorly in those elections.
They create an image of the world according to which one votes for Vučić or against him in every election, they lower the mania about "patriots" and "traitors" to the lowest level. The fact that many "patriots" at the bar don't even know how to tie shoelaces is irrelevant. In the end, nobody asks them anything. They have to be obedient, to provide money for the party and other power-hungry structures, secure votes and a sufficient number of voluntary visitors to progressive gatherings. Rampant propaganda - in each place one local "Informer", which is mistaken for the central one - blurs the vision of the citizens: the fact that their surroundings look as if they have just been bombed by joint American and Russian bombers, does not matter. It is important that we are not Ustashas!
CAMPAIGN HAS STARTED - ALREADY SEEN, ONLY STRONGER
photo: andjela radoicic...
The campaign for the recently announced elections has started, it's been a few months. For the progressives, these elections are of great importance, their popularity has fallen, it is necessary to make up for it, that is, to show that it is not so, that "the people still want them". There is no doubt that bags of money, megawatts of energy and the broadest strata of clubbing will be engaged for this purpose. It will probably be even hotter than last year in Kosjerić and elsewhere. Probably, much, much more citizens' money will be stolen. They need wins more than ever. According to our information, in the aforementioned electoral self-governments, the progressives already formed the so-called election headquarters. Which are reminiscent of war headquarters. They visit apartments, carry gifts, and their weapons are visible through their jackets. They negotiate the price of the vote and, if necessary, threaten. Everyone in the system of local authorities and institutions is responsible for ensuring, as they know and are able, a certain number of safe votes. Either with money, or with blackmail, or with a club. The owners of private companies are also being blackmailed: if the employees do not vote for the progressives, they will face various tax and other inspections. So, everything has already been seen, only amplified!
It cannot be said that the other side is not active. The same months ago. In anticipation of these regular elections, negotiations were conducted on how the progressive opponents should perform in the elections. In some places, a joint opposition list led by students has been agreed upon for some time, and in some places - at least as things stand now - Vučić will be fought in several columns.
People from both the student movement and political parties tell us that the matter is not cemented, that negotiations are ongoing and that everything is subject to change. Hope for changes for the better. Let's hope that those who are on the other side of the river will also understand the importance of these elections and that vanities and petty interests will not come to the fore. However, it should be said that every city and municipality has its own political color: somewhere there are no students, at least not in significant numbers. In others, opposition parties exist only in traces, and citizens' groups dominate.
SAFE INDICATORS OF DISASTEROUS POLICY
Generally, there is no universal answer for all local governments, which is actually a winning combination for defeating the progressives. Political analysts say that it would be best if there was only one, strong anti-progressive list in each place. That sounds logical, but - theoretically it is also possible - maybe in some municipalities, two or even three opposition columns can achieve a better result. Sometimes things are better seen from a helicopter, and sometimes when you have both feet firmly on the ground.
If there is something definitely good in all of this, it is that the opposition political scene (parties, citizens' groups, students) has somewhat consolidated even in the smallest places, which was certainly contributed to by the great student-citizen rebellion. It is also good that the national media (we are not talking about the regime's media appearances), that is, the general public, took an interest in local politics and elections, so that the opposition activists were not left alone in the David and Goliath fight. In the fight against political crime and ordinary bandits. The bad thing is that the progressives achieved very good results in these local self-governments in the previous elections (we will not talk about how they managed to do so now), so the opposition actors will have a difficult task ahead of them to turn things around.
What else is common to all local governments in which the March elections have been announced? Not only them, of course, but they are now in focus. Creepy depopulation! People run headlong from them regardless. They go to large centers or across the border, where anyone can get away. In connection with this, there is a higher mortality in relation to the number of newborns. What could be a better indicator of disastrous politics! Of course, with all the infrastructural and urban chaos, which is a common feature of all settlements in the country. Belgrade and Novi Sad only unsuccessfully disguised their downfall. But all that has long been commonplace. It is also common for those who are voters or potential voters of the opposition to flee.
photo: vladimir sporčić / tanjugNOWHERE WITHOUT A CAMERA: A. Vučić at the Jumka plant in Rudna Glava
BOR WILL BE A VIOLENT SCENE
The focus of this election cycle will most likely be Bor. Not only because it has the form of a city - but also because it has the largest local budget, one of the largest in the country after Belgrade, Novi Sad and Niš, and which should be kept in a progressive family. The budget is large thanks to mining rents, that is, "Ziđin", certainly not to the successful moves of the local self-government. The specificity of Bora is that it is a territory on which the Chinese state has great influence, practically it is an extraterritory. We saw that from Vučić's recent statement that he will ask Chinese mega-boss Xi Jinping to pay more attention to the environment and the health of Boran. Maybe ask him to arrange for SNS to win in this city.
We will see how the Borani will respond to depopulation, pollution and the wasteful spending of budget billions: will they punish the progressive government or will they continue to live in the murky brain of propaganda. Last time they were not inclined to punish. According to the 2011 census, Bor had 48.615 inhabitants, and in 2022, almost 8000 less. However, in 2022, the progressives and their partners won a comfortable government in the elections (SNS - 36,5 percent, SPS - 11 percent, and some other regimes), while the opposition in two columns had a total of 25 percent of the votes. How the local budget is spent and how things are with pollution is also shown by the additional depopulation: the number of the city's inhabitants has further decreased in the last three or four years. According to estimates, it fell to 39.000.
In this city, the election situation will be clear, at least as things stand now. The students gathered around them all the relevant opposition actors, both parties and local initiatives. It was announced that the list will include NPS, DS, SSP and SRCE. We will see if this will be a winning combination, or a combination that will at least achieve a significantly better result than four years ago.
The government, as expected, responds to the unification with a dirty campaign, using all its weapons to fight with mud. Apart from traditional media, there are also countless accounts on social networks, where opposition-minded citizens and even their children are insulted and ridiculed. One opposition councilor was physically attacked, another was beaten at night on the window and door of the apartment, and then ran away. There are also death threats. And the campaign hasn't even started!
ORANGELOVAC, A BREEDER OF EXTREME NATIONALISM
The municipality of Aranđelovac, the opposition Šumadin residents tell us, is the black hole of this part of Serbia, which they are ashamed of. They only go to this town when they really have to. Nowhere do extreme nationalists have as many supporters as in this place, which, to add to the absurdity, relies to a large extent on tourism. There are no rational reasons for such a thing, irrational ones remain.
The municipality experienced a strong depopulation since the progressives rode on the bones of the citizens of Serbia. But the people of Arandjelov are consistent in their loyalty to the progressive and Jaran policies. According to the 2011 census, the town with the surrounding villages had 46.255 inhabitants, and in 2022 - 5000 less. According to estimates, the negative trend has continued for the past three to four years. Despite this, the SNS and its partners won the elections smoothly - in 2022, the SNS, the SPS and Milica Zavetnica (she was still acting as the opposition at the time) won, in three columns, about 72 percent of the vote. If we add to that the voices of the coalition gathered around "Dvera", we can only cringe.
As things currently stand, opposition actors will go to the elections on March 29 in as many as three columns. As we said, it is possible that things will change, and very soon. Negotiations are ongoing, everyone says. For now, one column will be made up of the student-citizen list, the second will be led by SSP and "Dveri", and the third by NPS and SRCE.
Pre-election incidents were also recorded in Arandjelovac before the elections were announced. Apart from these already traditional-folkloric, nasty and disgusting attacks in the media and on social networks. The target is students and opposition members. A physical attack on the commissioner of the SRCE party was also recorded, as well as the postering of this organization's premises with offensive messages. The activity of communal services has also increased, progressives distribute gifts for children and visit socially vulnerable households. At the same time, road infrastructure works are being carried out and free health examinations are being organized, Crta notes.
FAIRY TALE GARDEN - ONE OPPOSITION LIST?
In Bajana Bašta, SNS won slightly more than 47 percent of the votes in the 2022 elections, or 24 out of 45 council seats. The SPS is around 12 percent, and the regime's Stamatović's so-called Zdrava Srbij was at about 7,5 percent of the vote. The gathered opposition, which appeared in one column, remained at the quota of 19 (nine deputies). It goes without saying that the municipality lost more than ten percent of its population in the period from 2011 to 2022, and that the negative trend continues.
In Bajana Bašta, even before the announcement of the elections, the "United for Bajana Bašta" list was presented, which is led by students, and which will also include some party opposition actors. Student representatives said that they are not ashamed of the opposition activists who are on the list they lead because they are people who "have been on the front line of the fight against the repression of this government for years." It was said that these are accomplished and successful individuals who have no need to be in politics "for personal gain, but out of responsibility towards the city".
Ministers visit Bajana Bašta in preparation for the elections, as many as six of them in one day. Attacks on the opposition through the media and social networks continue continuously, and activists had their car tires slashed during one forum. Disloyal people in the state-owned company "ProTent" were also fired because they did not respond to "tourist trips" organized by SNS.
CARE, REGIME THUGS AND TWO OPPOSITION LISTS
At the moment, the situation is that opposition-minded citizens in Kula will have the opportunity to choose between two lists. The first is the "Mladi Kula" list, a student-citizen block, and the second is "United for the Kula", which consists of political parties and citizen groups (GG "Critical mass", GG "Kuljani i naš grad", ZLF, NPS, PSG SRCE, NDSS, SSP, "Monarchists" - POKS and "Novo lice Srbije"). There were attempts to arrange a joint performance, but the negotiations failed. But the actors tell us that the matter is still not concluded.
The representatives of both lists were - of course - exposed to a negative campaign, intimidation, blackmail... Supporters of SNS used paint to target the stand of the "Mladi Kula" initiative. Those who were once good acquaintances of public order bodies are in charge of nepotism, but now they are rascals under the protection of the state. Numerous criminals from Novi Sad are working temporarily in the Kula, they have taken money, money, and who knows what else with them. In the progressive election headquarters, the light burns even during the night. At the same time, Minister Adrijana Mesarović is handing out packets to children in the SNS premises. Social measures are being promoted, such as free kindergarten for the third and every subsequent child, as well as various infrastructure works. A classic.
For Kula, it is interesting that - we will probably have similar cases in other election places - a list called "Mladi za Kula" appeared, which not only in name but also in visual identity resembles the student-citizen bloc. And she started campaigning. They want to confuse citizens, and the person who publicly represents them is one of the organizers of protests against blockades and other progressive gatherings.
In Kula in 2022, the SNS won slightly more than 52 percent of the votes, the SPS about 8,5 percent, and the two opposition groups of citizens together about 20 percent. The rest – some kind of strange accumulation of political factors. In 2011, Kula had 43.101 inhabitants, and in 2022 - 7500 fewer inhabitants.
LUCAN, DESIGNATED AS AN EPICENTER
Between 2011 and 2022, the municipality of Lucani lost a fifth of its inhabitants, and in the local elections four years ago, SNS won 20 out of 35 council seats, SPS four, and POKS two. The opposition group of citizens "One team" won nine mandates. This opposition GG will also be the backbone of the student-citizen list, on which the DS and "Dveri" candidates will allegedly appear. There are not too many students in Dragačevo, about twenty of them.
SNS has a problem with the current mayor, who is unpopular among the citizens, they are looking for someone new. According to those who know the situation in this part of Serbia, there are three people in the game. They are competing to get the most number of sure votes. Whoever wins, the throne. They don't even know what to do with the SPS, since it is on the verge of a census - they wouldn't want those votes to go to waste. So I guess they will put them on their list, even though they are not happy about it. The right is trying to organize itself and go to the elections, but things are going badly.
According to the Crta report, the MB Namenska factory in Lučani was marked as the epicenter of political activities. Allegedly, a space has been organized there for ministers and other high-ranking officials who will come to this town every now and then in the next month and a few days. Cases of monitoring of female students, intimidation of opposition activists in Kotraža and Guča, as well as frequent visits by state officials, donations and party meetings were also reported. Local media reported that the employees of the Namenska military factory (1800 employees) were being blackmailed into voting for SNS, along with their families. If they do not agree, they are threatened with dismissal.
photo: nebojša jovanović / fonetPERSISTENCE AND RADICALIZATION OF PROTEST: Farmers in roadblocks
WHAT MAKES SNS STRONGER, THERE ARE FEWER POPULATIONS
In the remaining local governments (Smederevska Palanka, Knjaževac, Kladovo and Majdanpek), where local elections will be held on March 29, the situation is similar, with certain local specificities. First of all, it is more popular to die or escape from them than to live in them. Majdanpek lost 20 percent of its population between the two censuses, while Smederevska Palanka fared slightly better - only 16 percent less people were counted. Knjaževac and Kladovo have ten percentage points of decline.
It seems that the voters perceive these data as a great success of the wise Vučić and the politics of his local chauvinists. SNS and partners in these local governments have been tearing apart their political opponents for a long time. It seems that a rule can be established: the stronger the SNS, the smaller the population!
In Smederevska Palanka, in 2022, regime parties won about 80 percent of the votes, and the situation is similar in Knjaževac. Only slightly less percentages were packed by regimes in Majdanpek and Kladovo.
Negotiations are ongoing and it is not yet known how many lists and how organized the opposition actors will be in the elections, nor who the student movement will support. However, it cannot be said that nothing has been done in this regard. Ten opposition parties and movements in Knjaževac signed the Declaration on Joint Action in October. The declaration was signed by NPS, NLS ("New Face of Serbia"), POKS, DS, SSP, New DSS, SDS, "Dveri", "Association of Victims of the Regime" and war veterans.
In Majdanpek, two groups of citizens ("I don't give!" and "It can be different"), which won about 19 percent of the votes in the previous elections, will most likely be the backbone of the opposition's performance in this municipality. And in Kladovo GG "Movement for Kladovo". Smederevska Palanka tells us that opposition negotiations are ongoing and that nothing is known yet. The possibility of a joint list is not excluded.
On the other hand, SNS has started a campaign that will heat up. Intimidation and blackmail are understood. In Majdanpek, they go "door to door", their stands are everywhere, parties are organized for pensioners, while local portals promote the government. In Knjaževac, SNS organizes programs with direct benefits for citizens, including energy rehabilitation, scholarships, social and health measures, along with announcements of large infrastructure projects and frequent visits by high-ranking officials.
In Kladovo, the mayor of the municipality dominates public events, while SNS organizes parties for young people, stands and a door-to-door campaign. The line records the arrival of activists from other places and pressures on voters. In Smederevska Palanka, the local government is also very active, with a focus on cash prizes, vouchers, baby equipment, firewood and investments in schools, while SNS is constantly present through stands, packets, health checks and cultural events.
By the way, elections were announced for March 29 in the Užice municipality of Sevojno, and those elections were announced by the president of the Užice City Assembly.
