{"id":19425,"date":"2022-04-03T05:55:17","date_gmt":"2022-04-03T05:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/?p=19425"},"modified":"2022-04-03T05:55:17","modified_gmt":"2022-04-03T05:55:17","slug":"serbias-president-vucic-performs-balancing-act-as-he-seeks-re-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/2022\/04\/03\/serbias-president-vucic-performs-balancing-act-as-he-seeks-re-election\/","title":{"rendered":"Serbia’s President Vucic performs balancing act as he seeks re-election"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It may not be the first time that a household fridge has made a prominent appearance in an election campaign.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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But when Serbia’s president emerged in a couple’s kitchen in a promotional video, it raised hackles as well as eyebrows.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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With barely a shiver, Aleksandar Vucic proceeded to reel off a list of his Progressive Party’s achievements during their decade in power.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The ad was supposed to poke fun at the president’s critics.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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They complain that Mr Vucic is ubiquitous and they did not see the funny side.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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As far as Serbia’s opposition parties are concerned, the president’s frequent – and usually positively framed media appearances – are evidence of an unhealthy relationship between the Progressive Party and the country’s most popular newspapers and broadcasters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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‘Absolute media control’<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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They say that makes it hard to challenge a party that has won the last four parliamentary elections, and is looking for a hat-trick of presidential victories in Sunday’s elections.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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“The regime is in absolute control of the media,” complains Borko Stefanovic, deputy leader of the centre-left Party of Freedom and Justice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Borko<\/p>\n
BBC<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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For 10 years we have had a complete media blockade, not only of the opposition, but of anyone who dares to speak against the government<\/div>\n