Tense Serbian Election Day in Kula Reflects Political Division

In Kula, a town in northern Serbia, election day became a reflection of the country's deep political division. Aleksandar, a young local resident who works abroad, observed an unusual increase in people from outside the city, leading him to suspect a possible scheme to influence the results in favor of the SNS (Serbian Progressive Party).

"We saw license plates from various cities on the cars, which indicates that a coordinated team came with a prearranged scenario," Aleksandar said. The tension was palpable, with SNS supporters clashing with supporters of the opposition candidate list called Glas mladih opstine Kula (Voice of the Youth of Kula Municipality).

Mihajlo Mihajlo Sinkovic, a representative of the Observation Mission Budni do kraja (Alert Until the End), described the day as "like anything but a real election."

The atmosphere was reminiscent of a referendum, with accusations of electoral fraud and a strong police presence. The situation in Kula highlighted the deep political rifts dividing Serbian society.

As the day progressed, suspicions intensified, especially around the cafes and restaurants frequented by SNS supporters, where rumors of vote buying and other forms of electoral fraud circulated.

Opposition supporters gathered outside, and the police set up a cordon to prevent contact between the two groups. Protesters accused the police of protecting only SNS supporters. One woman shouted at the police: "Why are you protecting criminals?".

In the afternoon, a group of masked men attacked a group of people, resulting in injuries. The police, instead of arresting the attackers, prevented access to the building where they were hiding, effectively protecting them.

A similar incident occurred near a polling station, where a car with a duplicate voter list was seen. The police arrived but escorted the car away, increasing distrust of the authorities. Aleksandar commented, "What happened was that they were released, and the police physically shielded the car until it left the scene." Opponents of the SNS became increasingly convinced that the police were on the ruling party's side.

The youth organization Mladi Kula (Youth Kula) faced the dominant SNS in the elections, but their campaign was difficult. First, an electoral list with a very similar name, Mladi za Kulu (Youth for Kula), was registered, considered a "phantom list" to confuse voters.

Then, 14 women, some candidates and others activists, received threats about the publication of "compromising material" about them. Finally, three days before the elections, activists were attacked by people who had allegedly been guarding SNS billboards for days.

Ljiljana Knezevic, a candidate for Glas mladih opstine Kule, stated that they had faced various threats, including death threats and digital harassment, but that they did not give up thanks to public support. She was one of the women who received online threats.

These acts of intimidation and violence reflect the polarization and tension that marked the electoral process in Kula.

In front of the local SNS offices, another tense moment occurred when a group of party supporters confronted opponents, mainly young people. Ironically, a supporter of the ruling party shouted, "God's peace, one brother for another."

The response was forceful: "You are not my brother, you betrayed me for money. If you were my brother, you would ask who killed 16 people," referring to the victims of the Novi Sad train station disaster in November 2024.

Another confrontation took place in front of the Mihajlo Pupin Technical High School, where SNS supporters and the opposition clashed, separated by a police cordon. While the opposition sang against the Vucic government, the SNS supporters, fewer in number, watched silently. After the polls closed, people waited for the election documents to be safely transported to the municipal offices for counting. Biljana, a preschool teacher, hoped the elections would bring change to the community.

Although the SNS retained control of Kula, the victory was not overwhelming. Initial results showed that the SNS, along with its allies, obtained 11,796 votes. In the 2022 local elections, these same formations obtained a total of 15,387 votes in Kula, representing a 26.4% drop in support for the ruling coalition.

Supporters of the opposition candidates, led by students, celebrated at each polling station as if they had won.

The election day in Kula highlighted the political polarization and the desire for change in Serbian society. The fight for transparency and electoral justice continues, while the community awaits a more equitable and representative future.