euro|topics - Stalemate in Serbia

07/10/2008

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Main focus of Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Stalemate in Serbia

A political stalemate has emerged after early parliamentary elections were held in Serbia on Sunday. While President Boris Tadic's Democratic Party has come away with victory, it has not won enough seats to form a parliamentary majority. The nationalist Serbian Radical Party, on the other hand, could form a government despite its election defeat.

The Times - United Kingdom

In a leading article titled "Good morning Serbia" the paper argues that the victory of President Tadic's Democratic Party (DS) "poses considerable difficulties not only for the country's squabbling politicians but also for its European well wishers." Now we must wait and see which coalition partners the DS will choose: "To its credit, Europe moved swiftly during the earlier presidential election campaign to offer the Serbs real inducements to look West. Brussels offered to ease the visa regulations for Serbs, a vital issue for businessmen and tourists alike. It also promised closer trade and economic links. ... But now the EU must begin to deliver. This means translating promises into cash, and easing the still tough visa regime. ... The country lies in the heart of new Europe. It must take its deserved place among its westward-looking neighbours." (13/05/2008)

Dnevnik - Slovenia

Talking to journalist Andrej Brstovšek, political scientist Miloš Bešić comments on the results of the Serbian elections. "These parliamentary elections in Serbia were the most important ever because they have shown that the Serb voter has begun to act reasonably, and that for the first time the Serb people have clearly chosen the path towards Europe." Bešić attributes this change to the fact that the European camp stressed issues like unemployment and living standards."At the same time there was never any talk of renouncing Kosovo. Instead it made the case that the European path was the best way to fight for Kosovo. ... Kosovo remains a key issue in political debates, however ... even the most passionate nationalists now admit in private that Kosovo is a lost cause." (13/05/2008)

Libération - France

Belgrade correspondent Hélène Despic-Popovic analyses current relations between Serbia and the EU. "The crisis that ... broke out after Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence showed that many Serbs do not want to sacrifice their national pride to join the EU. Pragmatists like Democratic President Boris Tadic maintain by contrast that Serbia 'must not remain isolated'. ... Nevertheless, Serbia cannot join a club whose members recognised the Kosovar Albanian majority's declaration of independence against its wishes. ... The Serbs took offence at the quick accession of Bulgaria and Romania, two countries which lay far behind the rest of Europe twenty years ago. Many believe the democratic governments rewarded them insufficiently for Milošević's fall, and feel they are not treated on equal terms with Croatia, which could join in 2010." (12/05/2008)

Sega - Bulgaria

Emil Spacyski comments on the election victory of the pro-European forces: "Bulgaria is glad to see its neighbouring country turn its back on militant nationalism and look to Europe. ... With these elections the Serbs have bid a painful farewell to Kosovo. ... Stubborn nationalism did Belgrade no good. Many Serbs have always had a progressive attitude, but they never formed the majority. Now we must keep in mind the great protests against the regime and the wars of the 1990s, as well as the fact that it was not Clinton's bombs but the pressure from the people on the streets that brought about Milošević's fall." (13/05/2008)

» To the complete press review of Tuesday, May 13, 2008

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