Elections 2022: Campaign before the campaign

The findings of the CRTA Observation Mission are that, unlike previous pre-election periods,  and in the context of a parliament without any opposition parties , state institutions were strongly involved in running the campaign before the campaign until the calling of the elections. The key feature of this period and institutional practice was the production of narratives in favour of the government, and against the opposition and critical voices from the public. Institutions of legislative and executive power and the President of the Republic of Serbia, as well as the most influential media in the country, have been used by state officials as a continuous channel for creating an advantage for the ruling majority and building the cult of personality of President Aleksandar Vučić – through the promotion of their work and position and confrontations with political opponents, civil society and independent media. The abuse of institutional advantages enjoyed by the ruling majority has also gained a clientelist flavour through the official policy of intensive one-off programs of financial aid for citizens.