Vuciq and opposition: Same, so different.

For what is considered major national topics in Serbia, such as Kosovo or the acceptance of genocide, it is difficult to make a distinction between power, personified by Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq, and the opposition, first of all, “Alliance for Serbia”, which as participants in government protests this winter in Belgrade, has become the regime's most current challenge.

“I think these differences are very small”, says Angjelija Maric, a sociologist student who participates in protests in Belgrade, held every Saturday from 8 December.

The opposition leaders also have right-wing and very radical positions. There is Dvery, a clerical organisation, who, even if he came to power, would not fight for what I think would be needed, workers' rights and equality” respectively, says Mariq for the Balkan Radio Free Europe Service.

What has been observed when Serbia's “Alliance has been seen as being even tougher than Vuciki's stance for Kosovo. Vuciq, whom the foreign media describe as the reformed “nationalist”, agrees on changing the borders between Serbia and Kosovo, although he has never clarified what it means. But, “Alance for Serbia”, on the other hand, says the solution should be made by respecting Serbia's Constitution, in whose preamble it writes that Kosovo is part of Serbia. In public this has been interpreted in the manner that Vucic supports the solution, while the opposition status quo.

At 30 points of the “Aleance programme for Serbia” there is no mention of the European Union, even though Serbia is in the process of opening negotiating chapters for EU membership.

Vuciq, meanwhile, at a security forum in Belgrade, held in October, has said the EU's greatest presence in the Western Balkans is necessary, so that the EU “remains that kind of dream, that light of democracy and freedom, in which we target”.

(Girlly, today on Radio Free Europe)