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Danilo Savic, CEO of Data Cloud Technology

Leading the Digital Revolution

Despite having been established only four years ago, the Government Data Centre represents the infrastructural cornerstone of Serbia’s digitalisation strategy, and recent accolades confirm...

Roman Kratochvil, CE Industries Managing Partner, Beohemija CEO

Three Decades of Growth and Success

Our focus in 2025 will be on innovation, sustainability and optimising production processes, which will fortify Beohemija’s position as a key regional player, says...

Andrijana Đorđević, Centrosinergija General Manager

Focusing on Clients and Processes Leads to Success

As one of the leading distribution companies in Serbia, Centrosinergija achieves excellence through a focus on clients and responsible processes. By emphasising innovation, automation...

CPI Property Group (CPIPG)

STOP SHOP The Place for Shopping, Gathering and Entertainment

As a longstanding investor in the Serbian market, CPI Property Group invests in projects that not only contribute to the development of local communities,...

Scordia International Properties

A Smart Investment in Tradition: Ethno Household as a Business Opportunity for the Future

In a world where financial stability is increasingly challenging, real estate remains one of the most reliable investments. Unlike stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrencies, which...

Vladimir Gligorov, Economist And Political Scientist

A Hand In The Budget Replaces Force

The advantage that those in power have – primarily the budget and propaganda – should prevail over political failures and hitherto unprecedented corruption. That is a replacement for harsher methods of stealing elections by force and trickery. It is better if a vote can be bought than if it has to be extorted or fabricated

Negotiations are being held on electoral conditions to ensure that the government doesn’t have the advantages that it has precisely because it holds power. An obvious example is public media channels like television. The government usually has multiple ways that it can use state television as a means of its own propaganda. The same can be said of public companies. And the whole public sector. That’s because careers and income and other opportunities depend on the will of those in power. Ahead of next April’s general elections, these sources of support have already been secured by the authorities, although salary increases and promises of new investments can be expected in order to secure votes in the elections.

The people who are in power have an advantage over the opposition in the fact that, while the opposition can make promises, the authorities can rely on their control of the national budget. And can share out the money, as they also do. That is neither specific to Serbia nor to the current government. The difference lies in the fact that the ruling parties are now preparing for elections in which the electorate should vote for or against one person, for or against the leader, and thus for or against electoral autocracy.

The basic message is that everything – salaries, pensions, jobs, roads, utilities, hospitals and schools, security in every sense – depends on one man and his connections around the world, both political and business.

Problems are increasingly being solved by promises rather than successes, so it cannot be excluded that it will be necessary to rely on harsher methods – of force and theft – to secure the desired outcome

The advantage that those in power have – primarily the budget and propaganda – should prevail over political failures and hitherto unprecedented corruption. That is a replacement for harsher methods of stealing elections by force and trickery. It is better if a vote can be bought than if it has to be extorted or fabricated. This is also because it isn’t a matter of merely winning these elections, but rather of securing the enduring omnipotence of one man and his party.

In a certain sense, the price is increasing primarily because the state of public healthcare is deteriorating significantly, with the prospect of things looking even worse during the time of the elections. And then also because there is an increasing number of scandals of all kinds, which are mainly related to the business interests of those in power. Under such circumstances, there is ordinarily a purge of the party, which is actually being announced.

And finally, help is coming in the form of escalating conflicts and the risk of insecurity at the borders and around the neighbourhood. Mobilization around the leader would certainly be useful, both for the election turnout and for the readiness to accept the election results however they’re achieved.

As far as can be seen, money will be handed out, salaries and pensions will increase, patriotism will be sought and the opposition will be accused of treason. It is calculated that this should be enough to ensure the desired outcome. However, given that public health risks are not abating and problems are increasingly being solved by promises rather than successes, it cannot be excluded that it will be necessary to rely on harsher methods – of force and theft – to secure the desired outcome.

Comment

From Angela To Donald

EU enlargement has been treated as an important security matter since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, providing more encouragement to candidate countries...

Aleksandar R. Miletić, Research Associate of the Institute for Recent History of Serbia; Executive Director of the Centre for History Studies and Dialogue

Trump’s Troublesome Decisions for a Troubled World

If Trump’s election promises are realised, the global landscape could shift dramatically, with potential economic strain on the EU and increased refugee flows During his...

Duško Lopandić, Ph.D diplomat and president of the European Movement in Serbia’s Forum for International Relations

What Awaits Europe?

The European Union appears to lack the required unity and preparedness to adapt to new global challenges. Will it continue to wait for U.S....

Ivan Vejvoda, political scientist

Institutions and Their Would-be Destroyers and Defenders

The malevolent nature of Trump’s intentions isn’t disputed; the question is whether American democracy has strong enough safeguards to contain those intentions Donald Trump’s more...

EPS, Telekom, and NIS Lead Serbia’s Economy in 2023

Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) emerged as Serbia's most successful economic entity in 2023, achieving the highest profitability, revenues, and financial...

Mitarh Studio Unveils Visuals for Belgrade Aquarium

Architectural studio "Mitarh" has revealed visualizations for the planned Belgrade Aquarium, set to be built on the site of...

Giaufret and Konrad Visit Serbia’s First EPS Wind Farm

European Union and German ambassadors, Emanuele Giaufret and Anke Konrad, visited the construction site of the Kostolac wind farm alongside...

EIB Appoints Damien Sorrell as New Head of Regional Hub for the Western Balkans

The European Investment Bank (EIB Global) has appointed Damien Sorrell as the new Head of the Regional Hub for...

Kovačica Naive Art Added to UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List

Kovačica naive art, an element of Serbia's intangible cultural heritage, has been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of...

EIB Appoints Damien Sorrell as New Head of Regional Hub for the Western Balkans

The European Investment Bank (EIB Global) has appointed Damien Sorrell as the new Head of the Regional Hub for...

Oxford Announces Word of the Year for 2024

After more than 37,000 votes, public discussions around the globe, and linguistic data analysis, Oxford has declared "brain rot"...

The Ritz-Carlton to Redefine Luxury in Belgrade

Belgrade is set to welcome one of the world’s most prestigious luxury hotel brands, The Ritz-Carlton, following the signing...

Robert Fico: Slovakia Will Never Betray Serbia on the Kosovo Issue

Slovakia and Serbia can rely on each other, and Slovakia respects Serbia’s territorial integrity and will never betray Serbia...

MFIC Highlights Modest Gains in Montenegro’s Business Climate with 2024 Recommendations

The Montenegrin Foreign Investors Council (MFIC) has released its White Book - Investment Climate in Montenegro 2024, highlighting a...

EIB Appoints Damien Sorrell as New Head of Regional Hub for the Western Balkans

The European Investment Bank (EIB Global) has appointed Damien Sorrell as the new Head of the Regional Hub for...

Oxford Announces Word of the Year for 2024

After more than 37,000 votes, public discussions around the globe, and linguistic data analysis, Oxford has declared "brain rot"...

The Ritz-Carlton to Redefine Luxury in Belgrade

Belgrade is set to welcome one of the world’s most prestigious luxury hotel brands, The Ritz-Carlton, following the signing...

Robert Fico: Slovakia Will Never Betray Serbia on the Kosovo Issue

Slovakia and Serbia can rely on each other, and Slovakia respects Serbia’s territorial integrity and will never betray Serbia...

MFIC Highlights Modest Gains in Montenegro’s Business Climate with 2024 Recommendations

The Montenegrin Foreign Investors Council (MFIC) has released its White Book - Investment Climate in Montenegro 2024, highlighting a...
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