Peđa Mitrović, Secretary General of the Freedom and Justice Party (SSP), stated that for Serbia, the opinions of the European Union regarding the upcoming local elections matter far more than those of “some obscure American organizations” acting as election observers.
“American administration is very broad. The Serbian authorities clearly chose the only door that was open to them, as all other doors within the Trump administration are closed to the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS),” Mitrović said.
He emphasized that the most important observers of the elections are European bodies and all relevant political and civil society organizations within Serbia.
Mitrović highlighted ongoing electoral irregularities, noting that SSP members serving on the Election Roll Revision Commission have already identified more than 1,100 potentially suspicious voters across ten municipalities where elections are scheduled for Sunday.
He accused the ruling parties SNS and SPS of coordinating their election campaigns at government levels rather than through internal party mechanisms, including decisions on ministerial visits and local infrastructure projects.
Reflecting on previous elections in 2023, Mitrović noted that European representatives were very direct regarding observed irregularities. While some argue that little has changed since, he maintains that the opposition has consistently reported abuses to Brussels partners, resulting in European Parliament declarations and recommendations from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
Mitrović added that the state apparatus has invested more effort into these elections than in municipalities such as Kosjerić, Zaječar, Negotin, and Mionica.
“These elections are extremely important for us as a preparatory front for national elections. Local politicians and activists will be fighting against the full state apparatus, so we have to be realistic,” he said, adding that despite the challenges, change is still possible.
Mitrović stressed that research indicates voters want unity from the opposition, and pro-European parties have already formed a European front. He noted that lessons learned from the current local elections will inform strategies for future parliamentary elections, including whether to run a single or dual list in coordination with student groups.
Regarding allegations that SNS pays participants to attend rallies, Mitrović described this as “typical gaslighting,” noting that the practice is widely known and would be considered a scandal in any normal country.
