The key question for this election is the extent to which citizens will believe the image presented to them through the media more than they believe the life they’re actually living
I believe that every political party and coalition will attempt to impose the issue that it considers as supporting its cause the most. The ruling parties, which have spent more than 10 years in power, and during that time have managed to “dismantle” all the control mechanisms that ensure government accountability in any normal society, will emphasise economic issues and their adhoc pre-election donations to different groups of citizens. However, the government is aware that there are huge problems lurking behind the façade of a good economic situation and that those problems won’t be visible to citizens prior to heading to the polls. It is for this reason that the ruling parties will exert efforts to ensure the campaign is very dirty, thereby discouraging all those who aren’t their voters from even voting.
The opposition parties that are nationally- oriented will place an emphasis on the issue of Kosovo. Meanwhile, civic-minded opposition parties will try to bring to the fore issues of violence and insecurity in society, the eradicating of the rule of law and the sense of injustice felt among citizens, widespread corruption and exploitation on the part of the authorities, as well as the breakdown of all institutions that are important for citizens to be able to live well. It is difficult to say which issue will prove decisive, given that most of the media scene is massively controlled by the authorities. However, the media image being projected by the government via its media outlets differs greatly from the real life being experienced by a large number of citizens. Thus, the key question for this election is the extent to which citizens will believe the image presented to them through the media more than they believe the life they’re actually living.
Anyone who thinks that this kind of society is not a good place for them and their family to live should vote for change and for this society’s gradual return to normality
I’m under the impression that the entire opposition, both national- and civic-minded, has a shared interest in fighting for normality to return to society and for democracy to be restored to political life. Specifically, both factions know that their ideology and priorities will have no chance without these changes occurring.
Ursula von der Leyen did not select the new/old winner of the elections during her visit to Belgrade, as some analysts have claimed.
I don’t share that impression. She is the EU representative chosen to represent the Union’s interests. They will cooperate with every representative chosen by the citizens of Serbia on issues that are important to both them and us. I would say that she showed us, the citizens of Serbia, that she respects us as mature and responsible people. In a way, she told us that the question of the kind of society in which we live and the kind of country we have is our responsibility, and that she – as an EU representative – doesn’t want to deprive us of our right to order “our house” in the way that best suits us. I personally believe that she would also be happy if she didn’t have to cooperate with the current ruling pack.
When it comes to a possible winner of the elections in Belgrade, that remains an open question.
Elections are very, very rarely a done deal for any idea or option being subjected to a vote. The ruling elite have shown their readiness to violate all laws and rules of democracy in order to stay in power, and to do so brazenly if necessary. That’s why anyone who thinks that this kind of society is not a good place for them and their family to live should vote for change and for this society’s gradual return to normality.
