Elections in Serbia 2008

Balkan Crisis Again?

Boris Tadić is re-elected for president of Serbia after second ballot of elections held on Sunday, February 3. New/old president won with tiny majority against Radical Party candidate Tomislav Nikolić but after European Union decision to send EuLex Mission to Kosovo, confirmed (very interesting) only one day after Serbian elections, anyone is willing to take over responsibility for the future of the country


By MARKO ANDREJIĆ
from Belgrade, SERBIA


Serbia has re-elected Boris Tadić for president after second ballot of presidential elections held last Sunday, on February 3. Very tough battle against candidate of Radical Party (SRS) Tomislav Nikolić is finished with result 50,45 % : 47,82 % for Democratic Party (DS) candidate. Some experts say that means Serbian people have choosen to go towards European Union, better living standard and more foreign investments. The others say it's only presenting Serbian society divided almost half-half and very high level of public opinion going towards more cooperation with Russia and Eastern countries hoping that also means Kosovo will stay with Serbia.

After nine candidates in first round of elections, on January 20, any of them had enough votes to win (50% + 1 vote). Two candidates with the highest results - Tomislav Nikolić (39%) and Boris Tadić (35%) - had to go into second ballot, where we could see a hard-core campaign, "clash of titans" as some of the analysts presented. Two weeks between first and second round were full of burning speeches, promises about better life (like always) and fears what will happen if the opposite side wins. Nation really was divided but differences among candidates were pretty obvious.

Boris Tadić presented his campaign without too much changes comparing to the first round. His motto was "Let's Conquer Europe Together" - trying to force his pro-European attitude, speeding up European integrations and Serbia road towards EU. The point was at economical issues and improving standard of living but always insisting that Kosovo is a part of Serbia and it will always stay there.

Tomislav Nikolić finally accepted advices of marketing experts: he took off a badge with photo of his "mentor" Vojislav Šešelj whose trial in the Hague Tribunal is just "online". Nikolic started demanding his almost yesterday's speeches against European Union and all western countries and tried to become the biggest pro-European politician in only few weeks. He was trying to smile occasionally (not very successful), to speak calm and slowly (if it is possible with speeches like his), and he started worrying about mothers in Serbia, about students and their visa problems (the same girls and boys against whom Vojislav Šešelj was trying to fight with a gun, in front of the Parliament ten years ago) and about all innocent victims of transition. Kosovo was the first word all the time and of course, "Radical Party will never give it up"!

Kosovo was one of the most important topics in whole campaign as the final status of Serbian south province is about to be decided soon. Serbian Parliament proclaimed resolution on December 26, 2007 saying any of state institutions can't do anything that will lead to independence of Kosovo. All the political parties supported that attitude and all the candidates had the same opinion on this issue but some of them were trying to separate a question of Kosovo status and a question of Serbian integration into European Union. Still, some of them were explaining it's not possible after EU decision to send Eulex Mission to Kosovo without UN Security Council discussion.

Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica has commited his final political suicide with decision that Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and New Serbia (NS) will not support their coalition partner in the government - Democratic Party and its candidate Boris Tadic. It was the most absurd political statement ever when Kostunica said he is "still not sure if he will vote in second ballot at all". Prime Minister advising people not to vote at the elections, hm…? And after results were final, Kostunica didn't feel like important to congratulate to new/old president, although even Tadic's opponent in the second round did it the same evening.

European Union didn't help Serbian president nor Serbian people at all with its decision to send EuLex Mission to Kosovo, confirmed (very interesting) only one day after elections. It's hard to believe it was without intention. And it only brought new institutional crisis as government and Parliament can not decide now who should be first in presenting its opinion and reaction about EuLex. Seems like anyone is willing to take over responsibility.


(Published: 10.02.2008.)

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