Predictable SNS rally serves as 'military exercise' for Serbian authorities ahead of elections

A recent rally held by Serbia's ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) offered little in the way of new developments, according to analysts. President Aleksandar Vučić reiterated calls for party unity while simultaneously accusing dissenters of treason and attempts to undermine the government. As in previous years, he also promised increased pensions and additional support for the socially vulnerable.

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The only difference is that the elections are approaching, and this is a test of that state-party machinery run by Aleksandar Vučić. All those people engaged in organizing yesterday's rally – lists, phone calls, transport, financing – will be equally engaged on election day, only they will be bringing people to the polling stations.

The event was marked by a significant discrepancy in reported attendance. While the Ministry of Interior's software counted up to 207,000 participants, an independent archive of public gatherings recorded just over 32,000. This disparity highlights a recurring pattern of inflated numbers at government-organized events.

Sociologist Ivan Živkov characterized the rally as a "military exercise" for the state-party machinery controlled by Vučić. He suggested that the same individuals involved in organizing the rally, managing lists, making calls, arranging transport, and handling finances, would be equally engaged on election day, but this time to escort people to polling stations.

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I cannot deal with the presidential elections. The deadline for presidential elections from the submission of resignation is 90 days. I have not yet resigned, it is a matter of a few weeks.

During the rally, Vučić also proposed a name for the ruling party's electoral list: "United Serbia." Sociologist Živkov interpreted this as a message against genuine political pluralism, suggesting a move away from the competition of alternative ideologies and candidates found in developed democracies. He argued it promotes a model of "mechanical solidarity," akin to a tribal structure with a single leader.

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If we are accustomed to anything from the president, it is that his words do not mean much... Especially when he uses terms like 'maybe,' 'a few,' or 'we'll see' or 'we probably will,' where he is actually distancing himself from a complete commitment to it. 'A few' in Aleksandar Vučić's rhetorical discourse can be three weeks, and it can be 25 weeks.

Marko Vujić, an assistant professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences, questioned Vučić's statements about potentially running for president, noting the president's tendency to use ambiguous terms like "maybe," "a few," or "we'll see." Vujić suggested that "a few weeks" in Vučić's rhetoric could range from three to 25 weeks, indicating a lack of firm commitment.

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My proposal is that our list, the winning list in the upcoming elections, be called 'United Serbia.'