Dragan Djilas, leader of the Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP), said that if early parliamentary elections are called, the opposition’s best strategy would be to run on a single, united list in a “referendum-style” campaign. If that is not possible, he suggested forming at least a broad coalition to challenge President Aleksandar Vucic’s rule.
Speaking in an interview with the portal Simptom, Djilas said it remains to be seen whether all political actors can agree on a joint list. If not, he believes running in several separate blocs would not necessarily be a major setback.
Djilas emphasized that securing fairer electoral conditions is the most pressing priority. He called it “somewhat ironic” that discussions about elections are underway despite no official announcement from the government.
According to him, Vucic is hesitant to call elections due to a growing list of scandals, rising public discontent, and the fact that the Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office has started to investigate matters that strike “at the heart of his system and criminal network.”
Djilas also commented on speculation about a so-called student list, noting that while the idea has been circulating for months, the actual people behind it remain unclear.
Turning to local politics, Djilas accused the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of “devastating” Belgrade, comparing its governance to the policies of Vojislav Seselj’s Radicals in Zemun during the 1990s. He criticized the demolition of the historic Main Railway Station, plans to remove the Old Sava Bridge, the possible end of tram route “Krug Dvojke,” and the relocation of the Belgrade Zoo, which has been in the same location since 1936.
“They are destroying the spirit of Belgrade and the lives of its citizens, remaking the city according to their own well-known and deeply flawed standards,” Djilas said.
As for his first moves if the opposition were to take power, Djilas stressed that the Security Intelligence Agency (BIA) should be immediately dissolved, with only professional staff allowed to return. He also called for thorough investigations into wrongdoing by agency officials.
He added that Serbia’s public broadcaster RTS would also require sweeping reforms to fulfill its role in providing objective information to citizens.
