Viktor Stamenkovic
ON THE RECORD · 13 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“There is every reason to expect election day itself to be highly contentious,”
Viktor Stamenkovic · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
Stamenkovic said there is every reason to expect election day itself to be highly contentious.
“Given the circumstances, the ruling camp is choosing the electoral sequence it considers least dangerous,”
Viktor Stamenkovic · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
Stamenkovic said the ruling camp is choosing the electoral sequence it considers least dangerous, referring to Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
“Vucic cooperates with the EU on issues that matter to Brussels, while the EU has for years been willing to overlook a great deal about the increasingly authoritarian nature of his rule,”
Viktor Stamenkovic · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
Stamenkovic said Vucic cooperates with the EU on issues that matter to Brussels, while the EU has overlooked the increasingly authoritarian nature of his rule.
“In 2012, the presidential victory of the SNS candidate Tomislav Nikolic changed the political momentum so dramatically that the bloc, which had previously appeared capable of forming a parliamentary majority, was ultimately unable to do so,”
Viktor Stamenkovic · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
Stamenkovic explained how the 2012 presidential victory of SNS candidate Tomislav Nikolic dramatically changed political momentum and prevented a rival bloc from forming a parliamentary majority.
“Virtually all polling shows that a majority of the country believes Serbia is heading in the wrong direction and that the time has come for change.”
Viktor Stamenkovic · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
Stamenkovic said polling shows a majority of the country believes Serbia is heading in the wrong direction and that the time has come for change.
“The presidential result altered the calculations of the parliamentary parties and paved the way for a government led by SNS.”
Viktor Stamenkovic · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
Stamenkovic said the 2012 presidential result altered parliamentary parties' calculations and paved the way for an SNS-led government.
“What matters much more to Vucic is avoiding serious political pressure and criticism from Brussels.”
Viktor Stamenkovic · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
Stamenkovic said what matters much more to Vucic than EU membership is avoiding serious political pressure and criticism from Brussels.
“is essentially about reducing political risk”
Viktor Stamenkovic · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
Stamenkovic told Al Jazeera that Vucic's move to call snap elections is essentially about reducing political risk.
“Even if – and this is a big if – SNS wins another parliamentary majority, it is difficult to envisage a return to a situation in which it can govern normally and claim the kind of broad social legitimacy it once enjoyed,”
Viktor Stamenkovic · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
Stamenkovic said that even if SNS wins another parliamentary majority, it would be difficult to envisage a return to normal governance and broad social legitimacy.
“It is widely understood that Serbia cannot make meaningful progress towards EU membership under the current system of government,”
Viktor Stamenkovic · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
Stamenkovic said it is widely understood that Serbia cannot make meaningful progress towards EU membership under the current system of government.
“Vucic has, for some time, been aware that further delay is unlikely to work in his favour,”
Viktor Stamenkovic · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
Stamenkovic said Vucic has been aware that further delay of elections is unlikely to work in his favour.
“In some ways, the relationship between Vucic’s government and the EU resembles a couple trapped in a disastrous marriage who nevertheless do not divorce because both sides continue to benefit from the relationship.”
Viktor Stamenkovic · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
Stamenkovic compared the relationship between Vucic's government and the EU to a couple trapped in a disastrous marriage who do not divorce because both sides benefit.
“He therefore has to find a way of transferring his own political strength from the presidency into the parliamentary arena … effectively staking his political future on the parliamentary election.”
Viktor Stamenkovic · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
Stamenkovic said Vucic has to find a way of transferring his political strength from the presidency into the parliamentary arena, staking his political future on the parliamentary election.