Sejdinović: Vučić wants to “conquer” Novi Sad, while SPS is plunging toward the abyss after expelling Ružić

Nedim Sejdinović says Aleksandar Vučić’s planned appearance at a Serbian Progressive Party rally in Novi Sad is meant to show that the government can “conquer” a city that became the center of civic resistance after the canopy collapse.

The journalist describes the event, scheduled for Sept. 4, as a propaganda gathering designed primarily for the media. He recalled reports from the Tito era that police would pre-emptively arrest people considered likely to cause trouble before the president arrived, preventing any atmosphere that might undermine the appearance of public enthusiasm. “That obviously shows that there is some fear,” Sejdinović said.

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That obviously shows that there is some fear.

He said Novi Sad had rightly become the main city of resistance to Vučić’s rule after the canopy collapse. The SNS had announced Vučić’s arrival there more than five times, but he had not appeared. The party’s first rally after the collapse was held in Sremska Mitrovica, officially over alleged separatism, although it had initially been intended for Novi Sad. Organizers apparently decided that holding it there would not be wise at the time.

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Symbolically, it is important for him to conquer Novi Sad, so he can show his voters that he is all-powerful, still strong and powerful, and that nobody can do anything to him.

Sejdinović said a visit could now take place and would carry strong symbolic value for Vučić. “Symbolically, it is important for him to conquer Novi Sad, so he can show his voters that he is all-powerful, still strong and powerful, and that nobody can do anything to him,” he said. He predicted a “very sad rally” that would be presented as a propaganda victory, while insisting that civic resistance had not weakened.

Turning to the expulsion of Branko Ružić from the Socialist Party of Serbia, Sejdinović said Ružić had support inside the party, particularly at the local level. He described local authorities as divided into rival groups competing over public money, and said the SPS leadership had left its local officials exposed. He called Ružić a spokesman for members unhappy with the party’s position. With elections approaching, Sejdinović said Ružić had little time to form a new party and might withdraw, but he expected him to continue his political career and possibly return to the SPS as a victor.

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Very sad rally