Presidential campaigns kick off in earnest

Presidential candidates have only one month to convince voters to support them on January 20. Thus far, Boris Tadic, Tomislav Nikolic and Cedomir Jovanovic are the only official candidates, though several more are expected to join the race this week. Presidential campaigns kick off in earnest Analysts say that you can tell whose support the candidates are trying to attract from the slogans and mottos they have chosen for their campaigns. In the battle to renew his mandate, incumbent Tadic calls for a “Strong and Stable Serbia which Belongs in Europe.” His most serious rival, Tomislav Nikolic, has a slogan of “With All Your Hearts,” and went 500 meters underground to talk to miners in Bor during his first campaign stop. Cedomir Jovanovic, with the slogan “Life is the Law”, explained that he was looking for support at the elections from people who did not want Vojislav Kostunica as prime minister any longer. Srdjan Bogosavljevic from Strategic Marketing said that Tadic was promising a pro-European Serbia that would fight for Kosovo and standards throughout Europe. "With his slogan, Cedomir Jovanovic is promising faster and more radical reforms without turning back, while Tomislav Nikolic is turning to those who have lost out during the transition and trying to convince them that he can offer equality and a better life for them,” Bogosavljevic told B92. Djordje Vukovic of CESID said that the Serbian people were very familiar with the candidates and the ideas that their parties represented. He said that this was why the biggest battle would be motivating as high a number of citizens as possible to turn out and vote. “For the most part, the campaign is aimed at people who are indecisive and who are thinking about not who to vote for, but whether to vote at all, because most citizens already have an idea of who they support and who they will vote for,” said Vukovic. Socialist Milutin Mrkonjic will also begin his campaign this week, presenting himself as “Our Friend” with the message “Actions Speak.” It is still unclear what message Milanka Karic will be sending to voters in the absence of her husband Bogoljub who leads the Strength of Serbia party. Istvan Pastor, who has announced that he will represent the Hungarians, Ukrainians, Egyptians, Bulgarians and other minorities in the election, has yet to choose a slogan. DSS and New Serbia have yet to decide whether they will participate in the elections.

Presidential campaigns kick off in earnest

Analysts say that you can tell whose support the candidates are trying to attract from the slogans and mottos they have chosen for their campaigns.

In the battle to renew his mandate, incumbent Tadić calls for a “Strong and Stable Serbia which Belongs in Europe.”

His most serious rival, Tomislav Nikolić, has a slogan of “With All Your Hearts,” and went 500 meters underground to talk to miners in Bor during his first campaign stop.

Čedomir Jovanović, with the slogan “Life is the Law”, explained that he was looking for support at the elections from people who did not want Vojislav Koštunica as prime minister any longer.

Srđan Bogosavljević from Strategic Marketing said that Tadić was promising a pro-European Serbia that would fight for Kosovo and standards throughout Europe.

"With his slogan, Čedomir Jovanovic is promising faster and more radical reforms without turning back, while Tomislav Nikolić is turning to those who have lost out during the transition and trying to convince them that he can offer equality and a better life for them,” Bogosavljević told B92.

Đorđe Vuković of CESID said that the Serbian people were very familiar with the candidates and the ideas that their parties represented.

He said that this was why the biggest battle would be motivating as high a number of citizens as possible to turn out and vote.

“For the most part, the campaign is aimed at people who are indecisive and who are thinking about not who to vote for, but whether to vote at all, because most citizens already have an idea of who they support and who they will vote for,” said Vuković.

Socialist Milutin Mrkonjić will also begin his campaign this week, presenting himself as “Our Friend” with the message “Actions Speak.” It is still unclear what message Milanka Karić will be sending to voters in the absence of her husband Bogoljub who leads the Strength of Serbia party.

Ištvan Pastor, who has announced that he will represent the Hungarians, Ukrainians, Egyptians, Bulgarians and other minorities in the election, has yet to choose a slogan.

DSS and New Serbia have yet to decide whether they will participate in the elections.