Serebrianyi lower-house representative Bartek Bagdat has seen his Union Party leadership bid gather pace following an endorsement from Bor Assembly-member Satta Jovanovich – once considered a potential rival in the race.
Mr Bagdat, 50, who was seen as having an outside chance when he first entered the election, has seen his chances grow considerably by picking up key supporters – including in the country’s northern states where the largest volume of Unionist members and voters live and are registered. Campaigning on his record of winning his own coastal seat in the lower-house which resides in a particularly weak area of the country for his party in Kresnovic, Mr Bagdat has claimed he “understands the needs of working people” better than other candidates and can appeal “outside of the party’s base” – something he says is ‘essential’ if it is to form a government for the first time since 2007 in 2023. His opponents say he is ‘divisive’ and risks alienating the country’s northern voting population with his background, but as a Gal and a candidate gaining prominent supporters, his campaign is continuing to gather steam.
Mr Bagdat’s rivals in the race include neighbouring Kamchetkan Council member Leo Serrantes, Amarian deputy Vlad Marat – who is seen as the favourite – and former Amar governor Fyodor Schavelev. Mr Schavelev has largely consolidated the support of the party’s communitarian wing and along with Mr Marat quickly became a frontrunner. But in a fast moving race, both Mr Schavelev and Mr Serrantes, himself once considered a potential presidential candidate for the party last year and a favourite in the race, have faced calls to drop out – with Mr Bagdat and Mr Marat becoming strong rivals given both hold seats in the lower house – which for many has become a key factor in the race. Mr Serrantes who is a representative in the Council, and Mr Schavelev, who as a former governor does not have a seat in the country’s Federal Executive at all, would not be able to face Prime Minister Serbin – something seen as a particularly important characteristic of a potential leader for many. Both men have said it is “more important to get ‘the right man for the job’ regardless of the seat they hold” but it is an argument they seem to be losing.
With ballots expected to be sent to party members next week, and with the party’s caucus members voting in the run up to the announcement of the final result on Sunday 16 August, several key figures are still thought to be debating endorsements – including former leader Adnan Anadinivich and Federal Council Leader Anita Kappeler-Lhotzky, as well as former Kamchetkan governor and Medyn representative Stepan Michalvich who is thought to be weighing up endorsing either Mr Serrantes and Mr Marat. Ms Jovanovich’s endorsement of Mr Bagdat yesterday, alongside former party leader Lazar Ulanov’s backing of Mr Schavelev last week and Chudniv representative Radek Allenbach’s endorsement of Mr Marat earlier in the month, has left Mr Serrantes without a major boost to his campaign for sometime. Meanwhile, President Tattar and former president Gennadiy Artamova are expected to stay out of commenting on the race and interim party leader Dmitri Kreshnenvo has already announced he will not support any candidate.
The final result is expected to be close, but with a few weeks left to run insiders say the race is now consolidating around Mr Marat and Mr Bagdat as the runners enter the final straight of this election.
