Messages ahead of Sunday presidential vote in Serbia: Pride, warnings, promises

Just over 24 hours before the election silence begins on Thursday at midnight ahead of the Sunday vote, presidential candidates in Serbia are sending last messages to potential voters, reminding them of great successes, promising changes, warning political foes… Messages ahead of Sunday presidential election in Serbia: Pride, warnings, promises Just over 24 hours before the election silence begins on Thursday at midnight ahead of the Sunday vote, presidential candidates in Serbia are sending last messages to potential voters, reminding them of great successes, promising changes, warning political foes… Current President Aleksandar Vucic, who has said he will be sad if he gets less than 60 percent of votes in the first round of the race for his second term, tells people that under his leadership in the last decade, Serbia has become a country which has nothing to be ashamed of before the world, and calls on people to vote for "Serbia's safe future," i.e., for him and his ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). He said the choice is to continue as it has been in the last ten years or to go back to 2012 when his party came to power. On the other hand, his main opponent, retired general Zdravko Ponos, the candidate of the opposition 'United for Serbia's victory' coalition, warned the authorities "not to play with fire" by attempting to commit election fraud and called on state administration staff to refuse to take part in any wrongdoing," referring to many so-called phantom votes, i.e., invitations to vote for people who have never lived on the addresses the invitations have been sent. The phenomenon is mostly recorded in Belgrade, according to people who reported it to the police. The opinion polls give the opposition a chance to win in the capital. In the 2022 presidential race, three women are running alongside five men. In an attempt to motivate voters, Biljana Stojkovic, the opposition 'We Must' (Moramo) left-green coalition's candidate, said a president should be a servant to all people, talk to them and listen about their problems, "and not as it is the case today, to be the owner of the state, institutions and budget." From the right side of Serbia's political scene, Branka Krsmanovic, the 'Sovereignists' candidate, promised that she would return the presidential cabinet and work within the Constitutional framework as a president. She recently said that Serbia's commitment to EU membership should be re-considered. Also, a right-wing presidential candidate of the 'Oath Keepers' (Zavetnici) Milica Djurdjevic Stamenkovski, said she would respect everyone but would "unwaveringly defend the Constitution, state, economic and national interests." The far-right candidate Misa Vacic did not offer much but called on people to vote for him "out of spite." The other two presidential candidates, Milos Jovanovic of the NADA (Hope) coalition of conservative/nationalist parties) and Bosko Obradovic, of the Patriotic Bloc, an alliance of conservative/right/nationalist parties, have also promised changes in society if voters would place trust in them. Jovanovic has said Serbia should be more respected. "That will be Serbia which everyone should respect. And, as president, I'll put all my energy into our national foundations through national reconciliation, synthesis of Serbian history, strengthening of Serbian identity and Serbian culture." Obradovic promised he would "correct the injustice "towards pensioners the current government has robbed," alluding to reduced pensions by ten percent for almost four years by a temporary regulation aiming to consolidate the country's finances. Pročitaj više