University Professor: Vucic Delaying Election Decision to Draw Attention to Himself

Milos Besic (Photo: Beta/Milan Ilic)

A professor of the School of Political Studies of the University in Belgrade, Milos Besic, stated on May 6 that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was delaying the decision on scheduling parliamentary elections in order to keep himself at the center of attention.

Commenting on Vucic’s most recent statement – that the decision on elections would be made in some ten days, Besic told BETA that this was Vucic’s message to the public that he decided on everything. “He (Vucic) knows that the date of elections depends on him and uses that to draw attention to himself. He is delivering a message to everyone: ‘I am in charge here and I decide on everything, I decide whether there would be elections and when.’ The fact that it is May and that it is not known if the elections would be held in July is a part of the technology of governance of the group in power,” the professor said.

Besic said Vucic’s problem was that he no longer had a stable electorate. “He can no longer influence the voters because the political climate has changed,” he said.

President Vucic stated on May 5 that the decision on which elections would be held and when would be made “in some ten days.” Earlier, he said that he would announce the decision on scheduling early parliamentary elections for July 12 and the presidential one for November around the Day of St. George (May 6). One month ago, Vucic stated that elections would be held by the end of the year, or even by St. Vitus Day (June 28).