“Distracting the public, measuring own strength”: What do the announcements of large SNS rallies in Belgrade and Novi Sad tell us?
The Serbian Progressive Party has reported a large number of public gatherings and assemblies to the police and competent authorities for the last week of June, including rallies in Belgrade and Novi Sad. According to our sources, these gatherings primarily serve as a tool to attract public attention, measure their own strength, and buy time until a secure result for the upcoming elections is ensured through institutional control.
TL;DR
- SNS has reported numerous public gatherings in Belgrade and Novi Sad for the last week of June.
- These rallies are viewed as a tactic to distract the public, measure party strength, and gain time before elections.
- President Aleksandar Vučić is expected to speak at some of these events.
- Analysts suggest the timing of these rallies may correspond with potential election dates in early July.
- The rallies are also seen as a way to mobilize the voter base and potentially counter other political movements.
- Novi Sad rally is seen as particularly significant due to past avoidance by Vučić, potentially addressing his perceived 'cowardice'.
- Experts believe electoral conditions and media/judicial pressure are more indicative of election dates than these rallies.
- Other political figures suggest the rallies are to divert attention from scandals and assess vote-gathering capabilities, with parliamentary elections possibly delayed until after December due to the EXPO 2027 decision.