Local elections on June 2 will be held in 88 cities and municipalities, but Đilas’ allies have decided to boycott only those in the capital, while they will fight for power in others. It is clear that they are trying to avoid a complete debacle in the Belgrade elections, aware that they have less trust from the citizens, as indicated by public opinion polls. The complete chaos within the alliance „Serbia against violence“ contributed to this, where six members even opposed Đilas and decided to participate in both Belgrade and all other local elections in Serbia. The list, under the slogan „I Choose the Fight“, will be represented by PSG, DS, National Movement of Serbia (NPS), Ecological Uprising, Green-Left Front, and New Face of Serbia. This was confirmed by the leader of NPS, Miroslav Aleksić.
„I don’t understand the decision not to participate in the elections in Belgrade but to participate in the other local elections in Serbia,“ Aleksić said. With Đilas, remain Srce Zdravka Ponoša, Novi DSS of Miloš Jovanović, and POKS. Đilas accused the other part of the opposition of breaking their promise to the citizens by deciding to participate in all elections without fulfilling any of the significant recommendations of ODIHR and once again claiming that election fraud will occur on June 2. He also reminded of the demand to postpone all elections to the fall to ensure their regularity.
Vladimir Orlić, a lawmaker and vice president of GO SNS, said that they have invested enormous energy to come up with a solution that will ensure everyone’s participation in the elections, just as they themselves wanted.
„This is the first important thing we showed with a proposal signed not only by our parliamentary group but also by others, including several that call themselves the opposition. It seems to me that a two-thirds majority of lawmakers support this proposal. The second important conclusion is that all the fuss about alleged election fraud and irregular elections was just a farce. Now you see that there are two groups. One says they want to fight, and the other says they won’t participate in the elections because they would give legitimacy to Aleksandar Vučić,“ said Orlić, concluding that Vučić’s policy will win in these elections as well, and that they are completely aware of that.
The coalition led by SNS „Belgrade – Tomorrow“ has already submitted its list of candidates, and, as previously announced, the movement of Branimir Nestorović and the People’s Party should also participate in the elections.
Ana Brnabić responded by pointing out that every word of Jovanović’s would be agreed upon by Albin Kurti and Denis Bećirović.
Although the parliament session was convened to fulfill the demands of the opposition, they did not stick to the agenda. Miloš Jovanović from the NADA coalition belittled President Aleksandar Vučić’s efforts in New York to prevent the adoption of a resolution on genocide in Srebrenica by the UN General Assembly. He even said, „Who cares about Dora Bakoyannis,“ based on whose report it was recommended that the so-called Kosovo becomes a member of the Council of Europe. Parliament President Ana Brnabić responded by noting that Alban Kurti and Denis Bećirović would agree with every word he said.
In conclusion, the political landscape in Serbia is heating up as the local elections approach, with various parties and alliances staking their claims and strategies for success. The decision of Đilas’ allies to boycott the elections in Belgrade while participating in others has sparked controversy and criticism, with accusations of avoiding a potential defeat. The involvement of multiple opposition groups and the ruling party SNS promises a competitive and dynamic race for power in the local municipalities and cities of Serbia.
