We are happy to share with you, are dear readers, an interview with another new representative that became part of our expanding Political Youth Network. Meet Vukašin Blagojević from the Movement of Free Citizens from Serbia!
Dear Vukašin, please introduce yourself to our readers!
My name is Vukašin Blagojević and I am 24 years old. I study journalism at the Faculty of Philosophy in Niš. I am a member of the Movement of Free Citizens. I advocate for a liberal society which will deliver equal opportunities to everyone, regardless of gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, ethnicity, etc.
In my opinion, political activism is very important for society, considering it is a way we can help the entire society and improve it with our ideas and actions.
Look back at the start of your political activism. What was your motivation? What was the reason behind your decision to be actively engaged in politics?
When I was a child, we had only one TV in the house where I used to live. Usually my father was the one who controlled it and he mostly watched political shows with politicians’ interviews and confrontations. In the beginning, like any little child, I was bored sitting in front of the TV and waiting for the Daily News and some more talk shows to end, so that I could finally watch my favourite cartoon. However, as I matured in that atmosphere, over time politics and political events began to be more and more interesting to me, until the moment when I finally admitted to myself that politics is something that really interests me and that it is a mechanism which we can use to “change the world”. The last straw for me to get directly involved in politics, without any reservation, is the injustice that I encounter all around me, which comes directly from the ruling party in Serbia.
What are the most valuable lessons you learned through political activism? What skills and knowledge helped you to acquire?
What politics have taught me is that if you are persistent enough and dedicated to some of your ideas and goals, you will be given a real opportunity to achieve them, no matter how unattainable they may seem. Compromise is not really a popular thing, but it is clear that there is no politics without compromise; however, it’s very important that when we compromise, we know where to draw a red line that cannot be crossed. Therefore, persistence, dedication and compromise are the qualities that I have developed and improved while dealing with politics.
Why did you decide to join the Political Youth Network? Have you previously had experience in regional cooperation? What does regional cooperation mean to you?
I believe that the cooperation of ideologically similar political parties from the region is of great importance and that it can contribute to the strengthening of these parties through the education of their members and through the mutual exchange of experiences. These meetings of young politicians from the region are also important for the future cooperation of the countries of the Western Balkans region. The seminars organized by PYN are important both for the development of young politicians and for the creation of a future political scene that will nurture the policy of reconciliation of the countries of the region.
Nowadays we are faced with global challenges that require much solidarity and responsibility. What is your desired vision for the region in the next 10 years? What message do you have for young politically active young people in the region?
In the next ten years, I expect the countries from the Western Balkans region to be the equal members of the European Union, which would show the commitment of those countries and of their politicians, and would also guarantee the rapid development of the countries from the region in the fields of economy, culture, rule of law, education, etc. I would advise young politicians not to renounce their ideas. Whenever you are under impression that being involved in politics is the Sisyphean labour, try to remember the reason why you started to be active in politics in the first place and that reason will give you some additional motivation. The struggle will be long and exhausting, but if the final result of our political action will be a better quality of life for our fellow citizens, who will live happier, greet each other with bigger smiles on their faces and talk about their travels, it is worth not giving up the fight.