Serbian Lawyer: Public Fed Up, Government Nervous as Elections Loom

As reported by N1 Serbia, Jovan Rajić, a former member of the Republican Electoral Commission and a lawyer, offers a stark assessment of the current political climate in Serbia. Rajić suggests that for the first time, the ruling party is genuinely acknowledging the possibility of being ousted from power. This realization, he argues, has led to a heightened sense of nervousness and a more aggressive approach from the government and its supporters.

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For the first time, the government realizes that there is a possibility of their replacement.

Rajić observes an "increased degree of nervousness" within the government, which he describes as "abnormal." He believes that party members and those involved in public life have been implicitly or explicitly instructed to "completely liberate themselves," abandoning any pretense of restraint in their words and actions. This, he contends, is a strategy to "use all available means to preserve power" as elections loom.

The lawyer interprets the visible activities, such as setting up stands and displaying banners, as precursors to an official election campaign. He dismisses the idea that summer elections would disadvantage the opposition, stating that the public's dissatisfaction is so profound that people would forgo their paid vacation plans simply to see the current regime gone. He predicts a "referendum-like atmosphere" where the timing of the election becomes less critical.

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It seems to me that people are so fed up that they would not only not go on vacation to vote in the elections, but they would allow their paid arrangements to be ruined just to see the back of this regime.

Rajić also stresses the critical need for opposition unity, particularly in overseeing the election process. He calls for "technical cooperation around election control," emphasizing the importance of documenting and reporting all complaints promptly. He notes that students are actively involved in educating people on this front, and the opposition possesses the necessary infrastructure. His message to them is clear: "be smart, sit down, and agree on controlling these elections." This, he asserts, is the minimum they can do for the country.

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It seems to me that there is a heightened degree of nervousness, even compared to what we have had so far, which was also abnormal.

Significantly, Rajić points to a potential shift in international perception, suggesting that for the first time, the European Union might refuse to recognize election results if they are conducted in the same manner as previous ones. This adds another layer of pressure on the government to ensure a more credible electoral process, a point that resonates deeply with a public weary of alleged irregularities.

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It is terribly important to cooperate in that phase of controlling the election process, and most importantly, to document all complaints in time, to report everything.