In the Netherlands, 1,934 voters have registered to vote in the upcoming elections, almost four times as many as in 2023, Tatjana Puškarov told N1. She believes this turnout shows that the diaspora has recognized the importance of the elections, even though all voters in the country have been assigned to a single polling station, namely the Serbian Embassy in The Hague.
Although interest in voting in the Netherlands has increased significantly, voters are dissatisfied with the decision not to open additional polling stations, according to Tatjana Puškarov, who says they submitted the necessary documentation to the relevant institutions in good time.
“We submitted a request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for additional polling stations, along with documentation provided on time showing that citizens in various Dutch cities were interested in voting. To this day, we do not know why the request was rejected and, naturally, we are disappointed with the decisions made by the Republic Electoral Commission regarding the time and location of voting,” Puškarov emphasized.
She added that, despite this, voter organization was at a high level.
“We had constructive contacts with the embassy, and requests were processed, but there was a noticeable degree of distrust toward institutions within our community. The fact that we are very well connected in the Netherlands helped: we shared information among ourselves and organized various forms of support,” Puškarov said.
Despite the difficulties, the number of registered voters in the Netherlands has increased several times over compared with the previous elections, Puškarov added.
“According to the Unified Voters’ Register, we have 1,934 voters, four times as many as in the 2023 elections. All voters have been assigned to a single polling station, the Serbian Embassy in The Hague. Compared with others, we are still in a good position, and we are proud of the record number of voters,” Puškarov emphasized.
Why has interest among the diaspora increased?
According to Puškarov, the increase in registered voters shows that Serbian citizens living abroad consider these elections particularly important.
“The number of voters shows that the diaspora has recognized the importance of the elections. We see this as an opportunity for change because there is now also a credible alternative to the ruling regime. This has led to strong mobilization, and it is in the interest of all Serbian citizens, regardless of whether they live abroad or not, to establish a genuine rule of law after decades of institutional erosion,” Puškarov assessed.
Transport organized for election day
Since nearly 2,000 voters are expected to cast their ballots at a single location, major crowds are anticipated in the Netherlands. Nevertheless, voters will organize themselves effectively, Puškarov said.
“We are coordinating with one another, traveling together by public and private transport, helping each other and giving rides to those who need them. Some of our voters will be wearing pajamas to show solidarity with voters in Australia and America,” Puškarov said.
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Source: N1, Foto: Pexels; N1
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