Opposition Official Argues for Focusing on Changing Gov’t, Evaluating Decisions after Elections

Aleksandar Ivanovic: A New Opposition Face

Aleksandar Ivanovic, vice president of the People's Movement of Serbia, said on Sept. 23 that the party has made the responsible decision by withdrawing its previously certified electoral ticket, but that he believes that the subject should be dropped, and that "who played what role and who made good or bad calls" should be analyzed after the Oct. 25 election.

"Until then all available capacities and every atom of strength should be turned to the common goal -- change in government and giving back the institutions of this country to the people from the clutches of the mafia," Ivanovic told the Danas daily. He went on to say that it was important to the party to show that it is not withdrawing from running in the election for lack of organization, infrastructure or support from the people, as it has councils in over 100 towns and municipalities, more than 250 councilors, a caucus in the Serbian parliament and representatives in the provincial parliament of Vojvodina.

"We collected the signatures for the electoral ticket in just three days. That shows very clearly that we can organize and run in elections independently. However, everything that has been going on has brought on an atmosphere in which this election is perceived almost as a referendum -- us or the mafia running this country," Ivanovic said. He said the party has shown responsibility by submitting and withdrawing the ticket, just like it did with earlier decisions about running in local elections, either independently or in coalition with the university student protest movement, adding that the party has not squandered a single opposition vote.