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Ponoš: Vučić is leading a 'Borat campaign' to make his voters sing when they want to cry

Ponoš: Vučić is leading a 'Borat campaign' to make his voters sing when they want to cry

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Serbian opposition leader Zdravko Ponoš accused President Aleksandar Vučić of leading a "Borat campaign" to manipulate voters.
  • Ponoš claims Vučić plans to call early elections in September and use his potential prime ministerial role to influence them.
  • He also advocated for a unified opposition presidential candidate and emphasized Serbia's European path as crucial for societal order.

Serbian opposition leader Zdravko Ponoš has accused President Aleksandar Vučić of orchestrating a "Borat campaign" designed to placate and manipulate his voter base ahead of potential early elections.

He is leading a 'Borat campaign,' whose goal is to anchor his voter base and to anesthetize and put back to sleep all those awakened voters who decided to participate in the elections from the beginning.

— Zdravko PonošPonoš described Vučić's alleged campaign tactics.

Ponoš, president of Serbia Center, stated that the current government was intentionally composed of "unsuccessful" individuals who are subjects of ridicule. He alleges that Vučić planned this setup to position himself for a future prime ministerial role, which he would leverage to influence upcoming elections.

Speaking on TV Nova, Ponoš described Vučić's campaign strategy as one that encourages his supporters to "sing even when they want to cry." He contrasted this with the opposition's goal: to convince voters that "it is not time for singing or crying, but for removing this and taking life into their own hands."

It's a little pork, a little onion, one loaf of bread, a thin spritzer and gathering under a tent. A campaign in which he convinces his voter base to sing even when they want to cry.

— Zdravko PonošPonoš characterized the nature of Vučić's campaign events.

Ponoš further theorized that Vučić aims to engineer the government's collapse to trigger elections in early September. He suggested Vučić would use events like the anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement and a speech at the UN General Assembly in New York as part of his campaign. Upon returning, Ponoš claims Vučić would resign, allowing his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) to submit parliamentary election lists for late October and presidential elections for December, where Vučić, as prime minister, would allegedly support a favored candidate.

On the other hand, we should convince voters that it is not time for singing or crying, but for removing this and taking life into their own hands.

— Zdravko PonošPonoš outlined the opposition's message to voters.

Ponoš stressed the importance of Serbia's European Union path, calling it more than an ideology but a tool for proper societal organization, ensuring a normal, safe, and prosperous life. He expressed a desire for the opposition to unite behind a single presidential candidate and voiced confidence that students would propose someone acceptable to all opposition factions.

Advocacy for Serbia's European path is more than ideology, because it is a tool that allows society to be organized properly so that one can live normally, safely and prosperously.

— Zdravko PonošPonoš emphasized the importance of Serbia's EU integration.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.