Analyst: Idea that Vucic Will Step Down as Party Leader Unrealistic

Political analyst Boban Stojanovic (Photo: Media center Belgrade)

Political analyst Boban Stojanovic said on Dec. 30 that the idea that Serbian President and Serbian Progressive Party leader Aleksandar Vucic will withdraw from his party post is unrealistic, as he must be aware of the fact that by doing so he will lose most of his power.

“In Serbia, no matter what the political system, the position that lends most power is that of party leader. I believe that he [Vucic] is certain that the moment he steps down, he will lose most of the power he now holds. He knows what happened to Tomislav Nikolic,” said Stojanovic in an interview with BETA.

Stojanovic thinks that the party officials in all their addresses will “beg Vucic to remain the leader of the party and Serbia.” “I expect a Spanish-Indian soap-opera in several acts,” the analyst added.

Talking about a potential candidate to replace Vucic as the party head, Stojanovic said that looking from the point of view of the voters and the party itself, there is not a person that can come close to Vucic in terms of rating and recognition.

“The entire process of making him into a leader and chief was based on the assumption that there is not a single person that could jeopardize his rating or party position in any way. He does not have a successor in that formal sense,” said Stojanovic.

He added that Vucic is perhaps readying the ropes for a person who will participate in some future presidential elections when he himself won’t be able to run.

“Perhaps he also needs a respectable person as a future prime minister, a person who does not have a terribly negative rating. I do not see among the Serbian Progressive Party’s ranks such a figure, a person that does not have a large number of scandals under their belt, someone with a clean educational slate,” Stojanovic explained.

According to Stojanovic, the only person Vucic currently trusts is his general secretary, Nikola Selakovic.

By announcing changes within the Serbian Progressive Party, Stojanovic believes, Vucic was sending a message that everyone is replaceable in an attempt to discipline the officials and ministers.

“On the other hand, he wants to encourage the younger members and send them a message that if they do well in the elections, ‘there will be room for you,’” concluded Stojanovic.