The announcement that unions, and perhaps even different associations such as refugees, will take part in the election campaign is an indicator of expectations that the upcoming parliamentary elections will be marked by decisive battle for literally every single vote. Even ten thousand votes can be of utmost importance for each party and can influence their chances in forming the parliament or having one or more seats in it. As for unions and associations, this is an opportunity to reach their share of power.
Public opinion polls are currently showing that the number of committed voters (i.e. the ones who have already decided to vote and made their choice) is about two million and 700,000. Since the election turnout is usually around four million and 200,000 it is evident that more than half of the seats in political scene is already taken. Therefore, the parties will “fight” for about a million and 300,000 votes of undecided ones.
Support for unions in the elections is common on Serbian political scene, but now is the first time they show the ambition to negotiate with parties about the number of seats they will take. Therefore, they want a direct part in the government, probably with the aim of trading ‘their’ parliamentary seats after the formation of government and thus influencing the important decisions.
In case these pre-election pacts between unions and parties really occur, it is not difficult to assume that the parliamentary seats will be reserved for prominent union leaders. This seat denotes a secured job with a solid pay, which may be an additional incentive for unions to seek this type of agreement with the parties. And there are other advantages that go along with this position, such as the ability to establish valuable connections and the like.
Of course, unions will claim they are doing their best to protect the interests of workers and that the experience from Serbian political scene shows that direct participation in government is the only way to achieve this goal. It is probably true, but the question is – what will happen to the already weak Serbian union movement when it becomes directly involved in politics?
The probability that unions can regain the trust of workers in this way is currently very unlikely. Serbian political scene is dominated by private party interests, party leaders are taking over the prerogatives of the executive and legislative branches, good intentions are rapidly falling apart and unions and their leaders are far from capable of fighting in this field.
The reasons for unions’ announcements of engaging in the politics, the prospects for success of such initiative, the experiences of unions in other countries, the impact of the electoral system to the trade of votes and other issues concerning unions and political parties are being addressed for the portal of Novi Magazin by professor Zoran Stojiljkovic and director of The Centre for Free Elections and Democracy (CESID) Marko Blagojevic.