A commentary published by Serbia’s Radar questions the significance of the Serbian Progressive Party’s (SNS) rapid collection of signatures for its parliamentary election list, using satire and references to Einstein and Zeno’s paradoxes to argue that speed alone does not demonstrate political strength.
In the column, Radar writer and columnist Saša Ilić focuses on the SNS-backed electoral list “Aleksandar Vučić,” which, according to the article, collected more than 224,000 signatures in a remarkably short period.
Ilić uses deliberately ironic language to portray the process as an effort by the ruling party to create an impression of overwhelming momentum. He argues that the speed with which signatures were processed is less important than the level of genuine public support reflected in the election itself.
The commentary claims that 224,557 signatures were collected and processed in approximately three hours, suggesting that notaries would have had to process tens of thousands of signatures per hour. Ilić presents these figures as evidence of what he describes as an implausibly accelerated administrative process.
The author also contrasts the SNS campaign with the student-backed electoral list, arguing that political commentators and pro-government tabloids spent much of the previous two years criticizing a Students’ List before it had formally emerged as an electoral force.
Ilić further alleges that SNS supporters were mobilized through public enterprises and criticizes incidents involving individuals who allegedly attacked students or university officials. These allegations are presented within the author’s broader criticism of the ruling party rather than as independently established findings.
The column then turns to the reported reaction within the SNS leadership after the party’s list was submitted. Ilić uses satire to portray President Aleksandar Vučić as initially celebrating the speed of the signature collection before becoming concerned by the growing lines of citizens supporting the Students’ List.
The author also mocks the misspelling of Vučić’s name on materials associated with the SNS list and links the episode to a broader argument about political messaging and campaign organization.
A central metaphor of the column draws on Zeno’s paradox of Achilles and the tortoise. Ilić argues that moving faster does not necessarily mean overtaking a rival if the rival has already established a position ahead of the pursuer.
The commentary concludes by applying that metaphor to the election campaign, portraying the Students’ List as a political competitor that, in the author’s interpretation, cannot be overtaken simply through a rapid signature-collection operation.
The article is clearly written as opinion and political satire rather than as a neutral account of the election campaign. Its descriptions of SNS, its supporters and the political consequences of the signature drive represent the author’s characterization and should be distinguished from independently verified electoral data.
