Serbia’s #1 in 5 million group splits over boycott; Vucic doesn't understand

Two members of the Belgrade organisation said o Tuesday they disagreed and were later joined by also two members of #1 in 5 million from northern Kosovo and some from the central town of Krusevac.

The members of #1 in 5 million from the town also welcomed the decision of other organisations of the same name from several cities and towns to remain committed to the election boycott.

The Belgrade group decision came as a surprise to many. It prompted speculations why the most prominent advocates of the boycott suddenly changed their mind and accepted to take part in the vote which they were saying for a year would not be free and fair.

 In the first reaction from the regime, Ivica Dacic, Serbia’s Foreign Minister and the leader of the President Aleksandar Vuic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) leading coalition partner, the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), welcomed #1 in 5 million association to take part in the forthcoming elections, adding that meant the boycott had failed. “That also shows the confusion among the opposition ranks,” he told the Prva TV.

They explained that some opposition parties ‘betrayed’ the idea by either still not deciding about the boycott or saying they would not take part, but planned to do that, according to one of the organisers from Belgrade.

 However, a sharp criticism came from Krusevac: “No one will decide so cheeky and recklessly on behalf of us who protested during all these months,” the activist from the town said.

A part of #1 in 5 million Belgrade organisation, registered as an association last year, decided to participate in the vote only days after SNS' deputies submitted a motion for lowering the election threshold from five to three percent following Vucic’s idea.