Extraordinary Elections in Serbia 2023: Transforming Serbia into a 'Joint-Stock Company'?

In the Republic of Serbia, the concluding phase of the electoral campaign is in full swing for the extraordinary parliamentary elections, extraordinary elections for the Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, and extraordinary local elections for the capital city of Belgrade, along with an additional 65 local self-governments. Scheduled for 17 December 2023, these elections are regarded as the most significant since those held in 2012. Notably, they are characterized by an unprecedented 'dirty' and brutal pre-election campaign with a pronounced focus on discreditation.
There are 18 electoral lists competing in the elections for the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia. The frontrunner is the electoral list "Aleksandar Vučić - Serbia Must Not Stop." Among the opposition electoral lists, the "Serbia Against Violence" list stands out. The media landscape is entangled with a diverse ownership structure and controversial interests The media scene in Serbia has attracted various assessments and discussions. The opposition contends that it is not granted access to certain media, especially those with national coverage. Conversely, the government accuses the opposition of being supported by a spectrum of media outlets, predominantly under foreign ownership, operating in alignment with the opposition's interests and against the government.
Serbia is a hotspot for fake news and misinformation in Europe. The fight against fake news is neither an easy nor a simple task and poses a challenge for every media outlet. Media plays a crucial role in adequately confronting the past. It is necessary to continue working on strengthening media freedoms. Serbia currently grapples with a relatively non...