Europe shivers before Serbian tight run off

Today was the day when the smiles closed and the hearts started to heat noisily.

Serbian presidential run is two days away and what was expected to be a walk in the park for the incumbent turned out to be a race for every single ballot.

The latest pools put the candidates head to head. The pro-western candidate, Tadic, ahead with 51% of the votes, 2% or 150,000 votes more than the ultranationalist, Nicolic.

The forecast is leaving the European diplomats in thin ice. Europe betted more than it could in Tadic and cannot afford for its candidate to lose.

Brussels dangled the prospect of visa-free travel and eventual membership this week to sway voters to Tadic.

The bold move, already a thin compromise between the 25, was so exceptional that the Bosnian Media accused Brussels of having double standards.

The reason for taking such a rash step is Kosovo. Brussels wants Tadic to lead Serbia so that any opposition towards a unilateral declaration of Pristina is expressed but in legal terms.

A victory of the ultranationalist Nicolic can mean “troubles” for the the country to be independent.

Moreover it would stop Serbia for joining the Union and turning its allegiance to Russia.

Tadic made a surprise trip to Kosovo today to assure the Serbs of the province would not be independent.

Probably pushed by Brussels, Pristina said the independence is not imminent and there are still things to do. Just recall that the prime minister, Thaçi said last week, the independence was for days.

Europe is sending a nation-building force to the province to assure a peaceful move towards independence.

But in the plan for the Balkans was a victory from Tadic. What will Brussels do if his horse loses the race?

Related links:

Serbia opposes with legal means
Kosovo’s independence not imminent
Bosnia denounces EU double standards

Ernest