Parties talk presidential, local elections
The ruling coalition is expected to agree on a date for the next presidential and local elections shortly.
Sunday, 19.08.2007.
11:10
The ruling coalition is expected to agree on a date for the next presidential and local elections shortly. Belgrade media recently reported that the Democratic Party (DS) proposed to their coalition partner, the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), that presidential and local elections should be held separately. Parties talk presidential, local elections President Boris Tadic's Democrats wish to see the presidential ballot take place by the end of the year, with local elections postponed for March 2008. According to the Blic daily, the so-called democratic bloc will nominate a single candidate to run for president, while the deal leaves enough time for the parties to agree over the system to be applied in the next local ballot. Nonetheless, DS caucus chief Nada Kolundzija could not confirm Saturday whether these speculations were true. “It is important to reach an agreement within the governing coalition, regardless of our individual opinions and evaluations,” she stressed. Political analyst Milan Nikolic believes the ruling coalition will nominate a single candidate for the next presidential race, while the problems may arise when it comes to setting the terms for the local elections. Another analyst, Vladimir Goati, said Saturday that owing to financial concerns and higher expected voter’s turnout, it would be better to hold both elections simultaneously. CESID: Voting system needs modification Center for Free Election and Democracy (CeSID) Director Marko Blagojevic has said it is difficult to predict which voting system will be applied to the next local ballot. “The change of the electoral system has been a subject of debate for some time now. However, it would be difficult to reconcile various interests of political parties regarding the matter,” he told Beta news agency Sunday. In his opinion, current proportional method is good and should be kept, though somewhat modified to include certain features of the majority system. “Candidates in campaigns, if elected to the Parliament or local bodies, should be vested with more power and influence. Deputies should be more in touch with their voters, instead of strictly following party instructions,” Blagojevic argued. According to him, the level of control political parties have over deputies’ mandates has reached excessive proportions, which is why the introduction of certain majority system’s features should be taken into consideration. “Deputies in the Parliament and local representatives at present have absolutely no obligations towards their voters, as they answer exclusively to their respective political parties, which can hardly contribute to the development of a democratic political culture in Serbia,” he said.
Parties talk presidential, local elections
President Boris Tadić's Democrats wish to see the presidential ballot take place by the end of the year, with local elections postponed for March 2008.According to the Blic daily, the so-called democratic bloc will nominate a single candidate to run for president, while the deal leaves enough time for the parties to agree over the system to be applied in the next local ballot.
Nonetheless, DS caucus chief Nada Kolundžija could not confirm Saturday whether these speculations were true.
“It is important to reach an agreement within the governing coalition, regardless of our individual opinions and evaluations,” she stressed.
Political analyst Milan Nikolić believes the ruling coalition will nominate a single candidate for the next presidential race, while the problems may arise when it comes to setting the terms for the local elections.
Another analyst, Vladimir Goati, said Saturday that owing to financial concerns and higher expected voter’s turnout, it would be better to hold both elections simultaneously.
CESID: Voting system needs modification
Center for Free Election and Democracy (CeSID) Director Marko Blagojević has said it is difficult to predict which voting system will be applied to the next local ballot.“The change of the electoral system has been a subject of debate for some time now. However, it would be difficult to reconcile various interests of political parties regarding the matter,” he told Beta news agency Sunday.
In his opinion, current proportional method is good and should be kept, though somewhat modified to include certain features of the majority system.
“Candidates in campaigns, if elected to the Parliament or local bodies, should be vested with more power and influence. Deputies should be more in touch with their voters, instead of strictly following party instructions,” Blagojević argued.
According to him, the level of control political parties have over deputies’ mandates has reached excessive proportions, which is why the introduction of certain majority system’s features should be taken into consideration.
“Deputies in the Parliament and local representatives at present have absolutely no obligations towards their voters, as they answer exclusively to their respective political parties, which can hardly contribute to the development of a democratic political culture in Serbia,” he said.
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