A new split in the ranks of the Serbian opposition
Another split has emerged in the ranks of the Serbian pro-Western opposition. The “Democratic Party”, led by leader Zoran Lutovac, agreed to negotiations with the authorities (through EU mediation) on participation in the parliamentary elections scheduled for spring 2020. However, the top of the opposition coalition “Union for Serbia” advocates a boycott of the upcoming campaign.
The proposal of the head of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee, David McAllister, for Brussels to mediate in the dialogue between the government and the opposition on the issue of election conditions, divided the top of the “Union for Serbia”.
Representatives of the DP are ready to participate in the negotiations, but the founder of the Union, oligarch Dragan Djilas, and the leader of the Dveri party, Bosko Obradovic, are inclined to boycott the elections.
In turn, the Speaker of the Serbian Assembly Maja Gojkovic supported McAllister’s initiative.
“We welcome any involvement of deputies and the Speaker of the European Parliament in the dialogue between the authorities and the opposition in parliament. I hope that negotiations will begin soon regarding the organization of the meeting and the topics for discussion. The first stage of negotiations is tentatively scheduled for October 9 or 10, where the terms of the elections will be discussed. We all know what the deadlines are before us, and in the first stage we will focus on negotiations on the terms of the elections in March 2020. The topics of the media, the voter list, and election campaign financing will be discussed there,” explained Gojkovic.
“What other dialogue is there? Isn't everything about the election conditions in Serbia ideal and fair? Poor Maya, you admit that there is something rotten in this state? But don’t worry, no one normal will talk to you about anything. You are free!" – oppositionist Obradovic commented sarcastically on Twitter in response.
However, the radical attitude of his opposition comrades was not shared by the leader of the Democratic Party, Zoran Lutovac, who supported negotiations with the participation of the EU.
“There would be no proposals from McAllister and European parliamentarians for mediation if there were no protests and the opposition’s decision to boycott the upcoming elections. If we achieve a “General Agreement on Fair and Free Elections” and implement it in nine months with tools and mechanisms that would guarantee this, then the boycott campaign would achieve its goal,” Lutovac said in an interview with the Danas newspaper.
Speaker of the Democratic Party Goran Jesic called on the leaders of the Union for Serbia coalition not to impose the idea of boycotting the elections as the only possible one for all opponents of the government.
“We are open to continuing negotiations, which are primarily promoted by the EU. I don’t understand why Boško Obradović comments on the EU’s initiative for negotiations in October on behalf of the Democratic Party and, of course, refuses it,” Jesic wrote on his Twitter account.
Political scientist Elena Vukojicic explained the essence of the conflict in the ranks of the opposition.
“For small parties like the Democratic Party, a boycott amounts to political suicide and would probably mean the end of their existence on the Serbian political scene. On the other hand, it is clear that Djilas is guided in all this by his personal, business and political interests, despite the interests of other opposition parties. It is quite logical that this causes conflicts between them,” stated Vukojicic.
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