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Political Apathy in the Western Balkans?

Recent electoral outcomes in Kosovo and Montenegro have challenged the notion that elections in the Balkans are not able to bring about change. Has public opinion about the impact of elections changed since then?

In Albania, only 38% of the people believe that elections can change the government, shows a public opinion poll conducted by Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG).

This figure stands at 43% in both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. Montenegro, Kosovo and North Macedonia instead have experienced a change in the government's composition after the latest elections. The numbers reflect that: In Montenegro, 80%, in Kosovo, 56% and North Macedonia, 46% of the respondents believe that elections can have an impact.

Citizens start believing that change is possible, and the brief states that the 'collective action' problem in the Western Balkans might not be as hard to break as thought. 

However, in all surveyed countries except Kosovo, a relative majority of respondents believe that the opposition is not well organised. The harshest judgment of the political opposition comes from Serbia, where 84% have a low opinion of its effectiveness, with 43% deeming it completely disorganised.

Check out the data here 👇

https://lnkd.in/e-q4BgQ