The Students’ List, a political group campaigning for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Serbia, has encountered significant challenges as their billboards across the country have been subject to vandalism. The campaign, which features the slogan “We know how” in Cyrillic script, has seen its messages altered with graffiti in various locations. These acts of vandalism have included phrases such as “recognize Kosovo” and “destroy Serbia,” reflecting the contentious political environment as election day approaches on October 25.
In Loznica, a billboard was defaced with red paint and subsequently removed, leading to a confrontation between local authorities and representatives of the Students’ List. The mayor of Loznica, Dragana Lukić, accused the group of removing a photograph of a slain police officer from the billboard. However, reports from Nova.rs indicate that the billboard had been blank for over a year, contradicting the mayor’s claims.
Further incidents were reported in Požarevac, where students documented workers removing a newly installed billboard just hours after it was erected. The workers claimed to be acting on behalf of an agency, but reportedly lacked official orders and were working outside regular hours. This has raised suspicions about the motivations behind the removal and the potential involvement of political interests.
The vandalism is not limited to billboards. For months, graffiti targeting the rector of the University of Belgrade, Vladan Đokić, appeared on various surfaces across Serbia. Although Đokić is not among the candidates on the Students’ List, the graffiti campaign shifted focus once this was clarified. The recurring defacement has fueled tensions and highlighted the fraught political atmosphere in Serbia as the elections draw near.
These events have sparked debates about the safety and fairness of political campaigning in Serbia. The Students’ List has faced accusations from political opponents, including claims of employing intimidation tactics against women, as voiced by Ana Brnabić, Vice President of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Such allegations have added to the polarized political discourse surrounding the elections.
The broader implications of these incidents are significant, as they underscore the challenges faced by opposition groups in Serbia. The Students’ List’s campaign efforts, which have included innovative strategies like a bicycle tour carrying copies of the Serbian Constitution, aim to engage voters and promote their platform. However, the vandalism and subsequent controversies threaten to overshadow these initiatives, complicating their efforts to gain traction in a politically charged environment.
As the election date approaches, the Students’ List and other opposition groups will need to navigate these challenges while continuing to advocate for their policies and engage with the electorate. The outcome of the elections could have far-reaching consequences for Serbia’s political landscape, particularly in light of the ongoing tensions and allegations of external influences on the electoral process.
