Serbian political coalition negotiations and boycott

Political discussions regarding election coalitions in Serbia have centered on the Mi snaga naroda movement. Initially, the Socialist Movement (PS), led by Aleksandar Vulin, confirmed it held talks with Branimir Nestorović and Mi snaga naroda leadership about a potential joint appearance in upcoming elections. However, the PS expressed a desire to avoid internal disputes within the movement, maintaining a stance that supports alliances with Russia and China while opposing EU and NATO integration.

Internal friction emerged within Mi snaga naroda, with Borislav Antonijević challenging the legitimacy of a recent extraordinary assembly and the removal of certain Presidency members. Vladimir Gajić, president of the Narodna stranka, subsequently announced that his party would run in the parliamentary elections in a coalition with Mi snaga naroda and two minority Russian parties, explicitly excluding Aleksandar Vulin’s Pokret socijalista. Gajić clarified that Nestorović had been in Slovenia and was in stable health, noting that Nestorović maintains strong contacts in Russia.

However, the Mi snaga naroda movement has since announced it will boycott the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 25. This decision was reached during a presidency session and communicated to the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK). The movement remains fractured by leadership disputes following the Assembly’s decision to remove five presidency members, including Borislav Antonijević, Ratko Ristić, Branko Lukić, Slobodan Ilić, and Ana Ivanović. The ousted members held their own session, asserting that the boycott decision was made by a majority of the presidency members.