Serbia political debates face scrutiny ahead of elections

As Serbia approaches extraordinary parliamentary elections on October 25, the role and availability of televised political debates have become a central topic of discussion. Experts note that the format of direct verbal duels between political rivals has been largely neglected in the country in recent years.

Dobrivoje Stanojević, a professor of stylistics and rhetoric at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, suggests that a culture of dialogue is lacking. He points out that even when meaningful statements are made, they are often obscured by disinformation, loud speeches, and obstructionist tactics. Stanojević observes that since the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) came to power in 2012, no classic TV duels have been organized, despite various calls for them.

While some verbal confrontations occur on public service broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), critics argue these are often unequal. Stanojević claims that many media outlets do not allow both sides to participate equally, noting that media close to the government sometimes present a facade of debate that lacks substantive opposition.