TRUMP'S BALKANS

(Original text: Published in December 12, 2016)

Trump’s victory in US found its reflections in Balkans as well. Apart from the fact that the “first lady” is of Slovenian origin, Trump as the new president of US caused a sort of ambition among the dumb politicians in ex-Yugoslavia which were already polarized between supporters of Clinton and Trump before the elections.

Trump’s victory in the elections was in fact a shock in Eastern Europe. The early signs that Trump will have a more balanced foreign relations with Russia caused a fuss in the rusophobic administrations of Eastern Europe. Some countries have already tended to follow a balanced relation with Russia. Czechia, Hungary or Slovakia. A similar will appeared in Bulgaria and Moldova with the latest elections. However, Poland and especially Ukraine are quite uneasy with the upcoming new era and we suppose that they really have to be quite uneasy with the contemporary governments they have. As it is known: Both inner and international politics of both countries are established on consolidation based on rusophobia.

There will not be easy days for the liberals in Eastern Europe. On the other side, it should not be forgotten that the joy of populist and ultra-right wing politics about Trump’s victory absolutely do not offer better future for working class, employers and leftists. This shall be the subject of another article.

What about US’s “farm in Europe”; the Balkans?

Unsurprisingly, Balkans were divided into two camps even before the elections. A clear cut frontline between the anti-Trump and pro-Trump camps have already appeared.

Locals of Sevnica celebrating the election results. (photo: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-slovenia-trump-idUSKBN1342BF)

Slovenia can be identified as the folkloric member of pro-Trump camp. (Slovenia is not the one which is separated from Czechoslovakia, but the other one) The tiny country of Slovenia is proud of being the homeland of Trump’s (latest) wife Melania Trump from Slovenia. Yes, you did not read wrong: Donald Trump, who blackmails the immigrants to dismiss from US is married with a woman who migrated to USA in 1996 and gathered US citizenship only ten years ago! Melania Trump (Melianija Knavs) is from Sevnica, a small town of almost 5000 population at the skirts of Alps in Slovenia, where inhabitants celebrated Trump’s victory with parties. Nowadays the “aunties” who know little Melanija or Melanija’s old friends are invited to TV shows. Slovenians expect that the national brother-in-law (Donald Trump) will attach special importance to Slovenia and even a tourism boom is expected.

Seselj and his Serbian Radicals rallying for Trump. (Photo: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/file/show//Images/Images.New/Seselj%20Tramp%20640%20Beta.jpg)

However, the prominent songs of victory rose in Belgrade. President Nikolic have already declared his full support for Trump even long before the elections. Prime Minister Vucic did not show a direct support but declared his confidence of Trump’s victory after the election results were announced. The real enthusiasm was of Vojislav Seselj, ex-criminal of war, just left the prison and began to lead his Serbian Radical Party. It has to be noted that Milosevic or Karadzic can be identified as naïve when compared with Seselj. This arrogant Chetnik murder enjoyed to show his support to Trump by dressing t-shirts with Trump’s poster on it.

The love for Trump of Serbian nationalists is not limited with that of from Serbia. In Banja Luka, where a truck showed off in the city the whole day of election with huge posters of Putin and Trump, some celebrated Trump’s victory as well. Since Trump declared a more balanced relation with Putin, Serbian nationalists surely declared themselves as Trumpists. In Macedonia, icons are prepared showing Trump as a saint. Nikola Gruevski, the nationalist arrogant leader of Macedonia is quite happy with the anti-Islam discourse of Trump.

A truck for celebrating Trump's victory, not fırgetting the respect for Putin in Banja Luka. (Photo: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/file/show//Images/Images.New/Seselj%20Tramp%20640%20Beta.jpg)

It is not surprising that in ex-Yugoslavia polarization became a part of daily political life. So is the same case with the US elections. Bosnian Muslims and Kosovar Albanians are surely unhappy with US election results with the hope that like Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton would also “protect and support” Bosna and Kosovo.

People of different nations in Balkans are in search of some hope from distant countries since some time, without any trust or expectation from the local politicians.