Srdanović responds to RTS invitation to debate Vučić: ‘Finally become a public service for all citizens’

Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) invited the leaders of the two main electoral lists to a pre-election debate — Aleksandar Vučić, leader of the “Ujedinjena Srbija – Aleksandar Vučić” list, and Ilija Srdanović, top of the “Studentska lista – Studenti pobeđuju” list — as representatives of the two lists that, according to polls, have the best chances of winning seats in the parliamentary elections, as the Serbian outlet Nova.rs reports in an article published Saturday.

In addition to the two list leaders, Vukosava Crnjanski, director of the CRTA organization, also received a debate invitation; according to Nova.rs, she has already declined, stressing that her organization is an election observer, not a participant in the elections. The debate was proposed in two slots: Tuesday, September 29, and Thursday, October 1, both starting at 9:00 p.m.

Srdanović responded to the invitation publicly through a post on Instagram, addressed directly to the public service. “To the public service of Serbia: It has been 18 days since the elections were called. In your programme there is neither shadow nor voice of any candidate of the Student List. Neither shadow nor voice. Now we are supposed to give artificial respiration to drowned policies? Finally become a public service for all citizens of Serbia,” he wrote.

Srdanović’s reaction comes amid tensions between the public service and the Student List, which accuses RTS of unequal representation of candidates ahead of the October 25 parliamentary elections. As Nova.rs reports, the Student List leader’s response is more an open criticism of the public television’s editorial policy than a confirmation of participation in the debate.