The upcoming local elections in Sečanj, scheduled for November 30, have already sparked controversy, with accusations of manipulation leveled against the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Vukašin Baćina Baćko, local councilor and president of the citizens’ group “Vukašin Baćina – For a Better Municipality of Sečanj”, has raised serious concerns about the conduct of SNS in the lead-up to the elections.
Baćina claims that SNS is preparing a “fake student list” for the elections, despite there being no students residing in the small Banat municipality. According to him, the list is designed to undermine the only opposition in the local assembly, namely his citizens’ group, which holds two councilor seats. Shockingly, the head of this purported student list is reportedly a 70-year-old retired woman, clearly highlighting the fraudulent nature of the effort.
“SNS started mobilizing suddenly. Employees of the municipality employed through SNS, along with party members, are supporting these fake students. At the head of the list, believe it or not, they put a 70-year-old lady. Imagine calling that a student list,” Baćina told reporters.
The allegations go beyond paper manipulation. Baćina also accuses SNS of distributing honey, wood, and other goods in villages across the municipality to secure votes. Elderly residents and pensioners, rather than actual students, have reportedly been targeted as part of this campaign.
“All the pensioners were picked up and welcomed as students in Sečanj. Not a single real student from the municipality was present. This is pure SNS strategy,” Baćina said.
The elections were called after the resignation of the previous municipal president, leaving Baćina’s citizens’ group, the only opposition with two councilor seats, unable to nominate a new president. SNS has allegedly used this political vacuum to further entrench its power and manipulate the local vote.
Baćina also points out that similar tactics have been used previously in Ubu, where SNS reportedly published another “fake student list” to claim electoral victory over opposition student groups.
He stresses that his citizens’ group is the sole opposition in Sečanj and has opted to run independently without alliance with any political party, citing the absence of DSS, POKS, DS, or any significant opposition force in the municipality.
The accusations paint a troubling picture of election manipulation, voter intimidation, and the use of material incentives to secure political dominance. If confirmed, these practices raise serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process in Sečanj and the lengths to which SNS is willing to go to maintain power.
