Vucic: votes and hope

For political analysts the electoral success of the Progressive Party (conservatives) that won over 50% of Parliament seats, shattering the opposition, is an excessively dangerous concentration of power. The Catholic Church warned that in the electoral campaign there was no mention of important values, nor of the theme of Serbia’s identity. The victory of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) led by the rising star of Serbian political scenario Alexander Vucic was no surprise. “Electoral triumph and overall win”, headlined March 17, the day after the vote, the liberal newspaper “Danas”, “perfect triumph” was the headline of ” Vecerne novosti “, whereas the daily “Politics” highlighted the “Triumph of Vucic and the failure of the opposition”. In fact, such an overwhelming victory is unprecedented in the modern history of the Balkan country. The results. The definitive results announced by CeSid, the Belgrade Centre for free elections and democracy, show that SNS conservatives gained 48.4% of votes, amounting to 156 seats, over 50% of the 250-seat Parliament. The Socialist party of ex Premier Ivica Dacic follows with 14.1%, that would translate into 44 seats. Only other two parties managed to pass the 5% threshold. These are the two wings of the democrats that broke apart a month ago: the Democratic Party of the former mayor of Belgrade, Dragan Djilas, with 5.9% (22 MPs) and the New Democratic Party of Serbia’s former president Boris Tadic which gained 5,7% and 18 MPs. SNS mad a strong win also in Belgrade, so far a stronghold of the Democrats, with 43.6% of the vote, followed by the Democrats of Djilas with 15.8%. Elections were also held in the disputed region of Kosovo, where 34.4% of Serbs went to the polls. Analyses. “These results highlight a concentration of power in a single party which is not a good sign for democracy in Serbia”, political analyst Dragan Janjic told SIR Europe, pointing out that “the serious reforms that the country is called to carry out require an open public debate”. He said: “Vucic has promoted the normalization process of relations with Kosovo, thereby paving the way for EU adhesion”. “The population has no interest in Kosovo nor in the European Union. What they want is a good standard of living, which is what Vucic has promised them. Jajic envisages that “even though the progressives could afford it they will not form the government alone. Instead, they will seek the support of the other two parties that entered Parliament; they could be the new democrats led by former president Boris Tadic and their partner to date, the Socialists of Ivica Dacic”. The position of the Catholic Church. The Archbishop of Belgrade, monsignor Stanislav Hocevar, pointed out to SIR Europe that “Vucic’s overwhelming victory might be tainted by a lack of communication among the various members of society”. The prelate underlined that “electoral results signal the country’s support to Europe for the future. But it is worrying that half of all Serbs didn’t go to the polls”. According to Msgr. Hocevar, “the electoral campaign was focused only on material issues: economic recovery and employment”. “In times of crisis especially, this is very important. But no one talks about the true values and identity of Serbia whereby the country could make a Christian contribution to the soul of united Europe”, added the Archbishop of Belgrade. He went on: “Christian communities in particular must ensure that Serbia’s future encompasses the spiritual, cultural and social dimensions”. Mons. Hocevar said the situation in the Balkan country “is very difficult, with many people living on the brink of society”. That’s why, the prelate said, “the people are afraid to lose their jobs and gathered around Vucic’s personality”.