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SERBIA’S YOUNG GENERATION are fed up.
They’re tired of the scandal after scandal; election promises broken; politicians profiting while the overall wealth of the ordinary citizen goes down; and very slow progress in terms of human rights or state infrastructure.
All of that has a real, tangible effect – more than 40% of young Serbs are unemployed and many are leaving to find opportunities abroad.
It’s not all about money either: part of that dream is an escape to freedom.
Discrimination is systemic in Serbia, gender equality isn’t seen as a priority, and there’s a societal intolerance of the LGBT community – issues that a younger generation see as basic human rights that they just can’t access.
That sense of disillusionment is part of the reason one of the candidates Ljubisa ‘Beli’ Preletacevic is gaining so much support from young voters. The 25-year-old satirist Luka Maksimovic plays the part of Beli, who’s the joker card of the candidates and has been dubbed the Serbian Borat.
‘Preletacevic’ punningly means someone who effortlessly switches loyalty – a jab at the notorious fickleness of Serbian politi, while his nickname ‘Beli’ means white.
His key electoral pledge is naked self-interest: “To steal for myself, but also to give something to the people.”
His campaign video (above) shows him dressed in white, riding a white horse and hailing fans while standing in an outdated open-top Mercedes. It’s been viewed more than 750,000 times in its first week
“We will get 16 wages, we will build three-storey houses, there will be no war,” sing tight-trousered performers.
On a recent campaign appearance in Mladenovac, Maksimovic’s home town outside Belgrade, ‘Beli’ was mobbed.
“We came from Belgrade just to meet you,” a middle-aged woman shouted from her car. Preletacevic went over to shake hands. “Hit it hard!” he declared, using his movement’s slogan.
The other candidates
To the right is current Serbian Prime Minister and presidential candidate Aleksandar Vucic, a former ultranationalist now European Union supporter, who is a clear favorite to win against several fragmented opposition candidates.
He’s already won three general elections in four years – helped by the support of both Vladimir Putin and most Western leaders.
The two main opposition candidates are to the left: former ombudsman Sasa Jankovic, (top left) and ex-foreign minister Vuk Jeremic will try to beat the odds and public mudslinging as they face the vote that begins with the Serbian diaspora voting today.
Human rights champion Jankovic is supported by pro-Western liberal voters, as he aims to reform politics, education and bring through a lot of the changes young voters want.
You can view a Facebook Live of a peaceful protest here (the banner reads as ‘For a Serbia without fear’).
https://www.facebook.com/SasaJankovicZastitnik/videos/vb.507928092748485/619984998209460/?type=2&theater¬if_t=comment_mention¬if_id=1490819549784308
Jeremic, meanwhile, has the support of more conservative and nationalist groups. Both are running as independent candidates with no party affiliation. And both have had a hammering in the press controlled by Vucic.
But some opinion polls place Beli second, ahead of Vucic’s two serious challengers.
“All the attention we are getting is a slap to the authorities and the opposition,” Beli told international news agency AFP.
They should ask themselves what they have brought this country to when a fictitious character can run for presidency and people want to vote for him. That shows something is wrong.
So young Serbs looking for drastic change in the country are faced with a choice: vote for the least worst option, and continue with the same political process they mistrust; or vote for Beli in a vote of protest.
With reporting from - © AFP 2017
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A bit like Ireland so….
@Tweed Cap: Nothing like Ireland. Ireland is a Utopia compared to this place
@Tweed Cap: Nothing whatsoever like Ireland. FYI, you live in a high income country with a raft of equality legislation and strong redistribution of wealth through taxation and welfare.
@Tweed Cap: Reading the first paragraph of the article, it could not describe Ireland any better.
“They’re tired of the scandal after scandal; election promises broken; politicians profiting while the overall wealth of the ordinary citizen goes down; and very slow progress in terms of human rights or state infrastructure.”
Just to be clear, this is Serbia we’re talking about?
@Piotrek Król: Yes. Most Eastern European countries are very regressive when it comes to human rights and equality, you find in countries where nationalistic fervour is common, that people are scared of change.
@OpenBorders:
Don’t expect a conversation with me, you disgusting creep.
@OpenBorders: The one upside to that nationalism is that they dont appear to be getting invaded by Islamic Neanderthals determined to destroy their way of life..Why is this I wonder?
@Lord Clanricarde: Maybe because they massacred thousands of ‘islamic neanderthals’ in Bosnia in the early 90s. Besides that, Serbia has a sizeable muslim population and was bombed by the US for wanting to ensure that the predominately muslim Kosova remained part of their territory. Don’t forget, that the former Yugoslavia very successfully held together a federation of multicultural Catholic, orthodox and muslim citizens until Milosevic decided he wanted to create a greater Serbia.
I know Belgrade quite well. It’s an extremely dynamic city with a young, creative population. Yet you can feel the uncertainty of which way to turn. On the one hand, the EU is pumping in a lot of money in the form of study abroad grants for students etc. But, they do a roaring trade in I love Putin t-shirts
@Lord Clanricarde: The big downside was a genocide in the 90′s though, you may recall the thousands of Muslims slaughtered and buried in mass graves.
@OpenBorders: I agree with the culture in most East Eu countries which is to not accept open borders and protect their culture. The Eu has no right to dissolve their culture.
Serbia is a classic example of how nationalism and conservatism lead to stagnation, what a dreary outlook for the youth in that country.
Centuries of threat from the Ottomans will leave a people damaged.
@OpenBorders:
Was there last September for the Ireland game. Beautiful country, with very friendly and interesting people. Hope it works out for them.
Serbian yutes
@George Roche: what’s a yute? :)
@William Clay: Rasta slang, from the phrase “wasted youth”. That’s what it struck me as anyway.
@John Considine: oh I thought he was referencing My Cousin Vinny? oops
You were right William :)
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