By: Vančo K. Tegov
It was Sunday, a Sunday that people had spoken about, wished for, and expected to be a true holiday – a celebration of democracy, a celebration of choice and determination, a moment when things would finally be different, so different that they could not and must not remain as they had been until now.
The day was slightly gloomy, yet at moments it showed a sun breaking through the clouds of what‑had‑been – a sun that should have scattered, torn apart, and driven them away. But this sun was only yellow, a sun that could not warm, melt, or dispel the “compactness” of the gloom that had settled too deeply and darkened our everyday life. The one who always carried this sense of change somewhere inside – in the stomach or in that part of the neck responsible for delicate matters – allowed a worm of doubt to crawl in beside him. A worm that prevents normal reaction, normal understanding, perception, life.
But things did not go as they began
A “twist” occurred. When the weights were finally set on the right course (the inflow of votes, the counting, a clearer picture), something clicked in someone’s head: wait, this is not going right. The “trouble‑makers” appeared, the picture froze (at the moment when 50,000 votes were showing for the blue‑yellow combination), and immediately the on‑duty AOP fix‑it men rushed in. First a reset, then a restart, then another reset, another restart – and the vote‑counting elephant began to operate (like the one in a China shop). With its backside it knocked over and shattered everything that had previously been achieved with reason and focus.
Usually, when something like this happens in a match, the game stops, the main referee (the electoral commission) looks toward the VAR camera and consults about a possible review of an obvious foul. This time (in the figurative sense) there was not even a glance toward VAR. Not even a twitch. The system of the growing “snowball” no longer stopped until the finish line. The first bale of straw was touched by the one who, with the help of the commission’s “elephant,” shattered all the electoral porcelain.
The elephant, “intoxicated” by the desire to topple the electoral “porcelain”
Encouraged and met with no reaction from opponents, the elbow‑jabbing overtaking began – regardless of who was ahead. The only thing that mattered was the line in front of them, the line that would restore their faith and hope in further glory, gained through cheating and dishonesty. And they celebrated. They celebrated the loss of 12 seats. Positions that had previously been fraudulently obtained were washed away as if by a short and violent storm. To reach the finish with an error, with foul play, with theft – that is not victory. That is an anathema, a sword of Damocles that will hang over their heads. Far more dangerous than anything else – especially if they begin to govern without first cleansing themselves of the stain. The stain called a clear conscience. A large number of the stained will need a strong detergent, a cleanser capable of pulling out all the red “mites” that have long been embedded in the awareness of the presence of the elephant that may again topple all moral and other “porcelain.” This porcelain is doomed to break, and in their view it cannot and must not remain whole for long.
The overconfident “potential” new players
Yesterday showed us yet another “feature” of the electoral carousel – new players on the scene who crossed the electoral threshold. Alongside the already known entry (after many years of nurturing a cuckoo’s egg) of Anže Logar’s party, which with its highly anticipated result – appropriate to the time, knowledge, and personnel pool – landed decently and without excessive injury on solid ground (aware that there were no physical injuries, only a slight slap to excessive self‑confidence). But there are also new “players” who, despite the known results and the stain of dishonesty, unfairness, and irregularity, display elation, even floating on clouds (which have no real density). Clouds without real substance, only in a form that matches the bearer of this group – Zoran Stevanović and his desire for a more dominant role (mainly due to physical proportions) in the areas and ministries that appeal to him. A player entering the scene for the first time as a potential part of the decision‑makers expresses a strong, amplified desire for three state‑forming ministries: foreign affairs, interior, and finance. If we are a bit mischievous – to my knowledge, his real personnel pool reaches no further than his immediate surroundings, knowing that one of his elected candidates is a house‑painter by profession with many years of experience. Such is sometimes the consequence of democracy when you understand it literally as the rule of the demos, the people. Joking aside – both comical and sad.
A slap to democracy, celebration of chaos‑makers and cheaters, a period of instability
What we experienced yesterday and what we are discussing today has revealed a symptomatic condition that deeply worries us. As if honesty, patriotism, care for the well‑being of citizens, for safety, for respectful and dignified living – regardless of life stage – were something bad for society as a whole. The part concerning the execution of the elections themselves and all the interventions in the process at various levels shows us a mirror with an unpleasant reflection. Politically, it points to a period of instability. It is regrettable that we will, for some time, be forced to confront – not by our own will, but because of the self‑absorption of part of the (mainly left‑leaning) political sphere, encouraged by forces and currents outside institutional politics – forces reminiscent of arrangements beyond our borders or, as some say, of a mafia‑style governance.
Ahead of us lies a very high likelihood of spiral elections, instability, short‑lived governments, political somersaults, or the so‑called Bulgarian syndrome – since 2021 they have had nearly 10 elections and as many governments, political or technical. If for a moment things looked different, we would all be glad – the author included. But the prospects arising from the current situation and the already‑set background point toward institutional disorder to the detriment of all citizens. Sadly.
