Serbia: Nikolic wins election first round

A HARDLINE NATIONALIST edged ahead of the pro-Western incumbent in the first round of Serbia’s presidential election last Sunday.

According to the electoral commission, the leader of the Radical Party, Tomislav Nikolic, had 38% of the votes, 3% more than the President in office, Boris Tadic.

The final verdict is delayed to the run off on the 3rd of February.

Over the election hangs the expected declaration of independence of Kosovo, a province now dominated by pro-independence ethnic Albanians that Serbs see as the cradle of nationality.

Both candidates oppose the independence of the province, but only Nikolic is ready to affront those who recognize the statehood of Kosovo.

The nationalist, former ally of late autocrat Slobodan Milosevic, counts on Serb’s nationalist pride and has threatened to stop the ongoing negotiations for Serbia to join the EU if Brussels recognizes Kosovo.

Referendum on European tie

The run off will be a referendum on the Serbian ties with Europe, according to the Financial Times.

If Nikolic wins, Serbia will shift its allegiance from Europe to Russia, which opposes the independentists.

On the other hand, Tadic advocates for European reforms and integration and counts on the support of Brussels to overcome the gap of the first round.

The incumbent portrayed the election as offering citizens a choice between a “road ahead and an errant road” back into Milosevic’s isolation.

“I will not allow pessimism to rule Serbia again… I will not allow my opponent Tomislav Nikolic to be a president,” Tadic said. “I will not allow us to return to the 1990s.”

Europe is taking the election seriously. Brussels plans to sign an agreement of association and financial support with Serbia to foster the support for Tadic and pave the way for Serbia’s integration in the Union.

Apart from Kosovo, where Brussels is sending the largest nation building mission of its history, Serbia is key in making the Balkans’ countries to join the Union .

Who is next?

Nikolic first round victory was wider than expected mostly due to last Sunday’s election great turnout – the greatest since Milosevic was taken off from power – analysts said.

But the run off is unresolved.

The moderate right-winger Prime minister, Vojislav Kostunica, has the power to tip the scales.

The popular leader of the Democratic Party of Serbia, avoided the main clash in the first round of elections by standing back for his finance minister, the third candidate in votes.

However, he can no longer remain neutral.

Kostunica, who defends Serbian integration in the EU and is allied to Tadic in Parliament, will shortly announce his position.

According to the FT, the Prime minister will support Tadic.

“Mr Tadic is now desperate for an endorsement, even tacit, from Vojislav Kostunica, the nationalist-leaning prime minister, most analysts say. Mr Kostunica supported the populist economy minister, Velimir Ilic, in the first round, apparently to put pressure on Mr Tadic and keep a stronger hand against the EU over Kosovo”.Links:
Nikolic Profile
Europe set to recognize Kosovo

With Guardian, Financial Times, The Economist

Ernest