SPS official: Party must choose its own candidates, free from state and SNS influence

Branko Ružić, a prominent figure in the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), has voiced strong opinions regarding the party's strategy for upcoming elections, emphasizing the need for independent candidate selection and warning against ideological absorption by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

Ružić stated that the SPS should contest parliamentary and presidential elections on its own. He believes that appearing on the SNS list would be a first in their cooperation and would ultimately lead to the SPS's "ideological assimilation and deepening identity crisis." He argued that a partner denied the right to an independent stance ceases to be a true partner, becoming merely an appendage.

"Within the SPS, it is necessary to draw clear lines that must not be crossed simply to remain in office and in power," Ružić asserted. He believes an independent SPS showing must reflect the party's self-awareness, its political program, a condemnation of high levels of corruption, and an insistence on the functioning of institutions. He specifically called for candidates to be chosen solely based on the party's internal decisions, free from state or SNS leadership "engineering."

Furthermore, Ružić cautioned against artificial alliances, where "engineering" might create a facade of support from non-existent political organizations around the SPS to secure controlled parliamentary seats from external power centers. He suggested that the SPS's independent approach should be accompanied by a narrative that keeps doors open for post-election cooperation with various partners, not exclusively with President Aleksandar Vučić and the SNS. He warned that narratives failing to address societal problems openly could push the party to the electoral threshold.

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Učešće na listi SNS bilo bi prvi put u dosadašnjoj saradnji SPS i SNS. Pritom bi dovelo do definitivnog ideološkog utapanja i produbljivanja krize identiteta. Jer partner kome je uskraćeno pravo da ima nezavisan stav više nije partner, on postaje privezak