Maja Stojanović, executive director of Civic Initiatives, said in Novi dan on N1 that now everyone’s task is to go to Kosjerić and Zaječar, pointing out that the entire state apparatus is there and that the citizens of those two places are under unprecedented pressure ahead of the local elections.
Speaking about the atmosphere in Kosjerić and Zaječar, Stojanović said that residents suffer from “abnormal pressure from the entire state”, which amounts to intimidation or promises of many things.
“We have the entire state apparatus focused there, and I can understand the atmosphere and the pressure and fear they feel. The only sure thing we managed to achieve with the protests to some extent is deterrence. We have to dig deep there, because the balance of power is completely different than in the rest of Serbia,” Stojanović told N1.
She adds that such pressure would not be possible if parliamentary elections were held at the national level.
According to her opinion, SNS perceives the elections in these two local governments as a “litmus test”.
“If they lose the elections, they also see that it is the beginning of the end. That’s why they did all that. Just when there are changes in small towns, which don’t have to be drastic, changes of 10 to 20 percent, they show the atmosphere and change at the national level,” said the guest of Novi Dan.
Asked if a new phase of pre-election violence is taking place in Kosjerić and Zaječar, where both activists and journalists were attacked, Stojanović replied that it is a “mini phase” and at the moment all human and material resources are focused on those two places.
“At least the pressure and manipulation is three times worse than in the previous parliamentary and local elections in June,” she added.
Commenting on the election for REM Council members, she says that it is more problematic than the previous contest, which was canceled.
“We made a report on how many illegal candidates there are, how many illegal proposers there are. And there are many more of them than last time. This is an indicator of the authorities’ enormous fear that they think they have to use everything they can,” explained the guest of Novi Dan.
He adds that such arrogance and reckless influence on the election process is much more visible to people, as well as to foreigners.
“I think the EU already understands what the situation is today and how far this has all come. The main question for the EU will be whether they want to leave this hole in the middle of Europe and decide more politically. I’m afraid that their decision may contribute to the consolidation of this government,” Stojanović said.