"Kosovo platform could force early elections"

BELGRADE "The opposite starting positions" of Tomislav Nikolic and Ivica Dacic on the Kosovo platform could lead to early parliamentary elections, an analyst believes. "Contrary to the first expectations that will be the document behind which will stand the president bringing together all parliamentary parties, the ruling as well as opposition ones, the latest dispute caused by the platform on Kosovo and Metohija shows that it will be subjected to fierce political challenges," said Predrag Simic, and added: "Kosovo platform could force early elections" "It is already creating a certain crisis in the ruling coalition". The difference of opinion between the president and prime minister arose in relation to the platform content, but also the character of the negotiations held under the auspices of Brussels, this former ambassador, now professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences, told Novi Sad-based daily Dnevnik. "While the president, or at least the platform that was drafted on his initiative, is advocating “the stands in principle, an attempt to formulate the country's policy on that issue,” the prime minister is taking much more pragmatic view which points out that the previous experience demonstrates that starting from such clearly stated stands would in fact paralyze the talks with Pristina, and thus affect the relations with the EU," Simic noted. At the moment, it is rather hard to predict the way in which things will unfold, he said, noting that there are elements of "a severe political crisis within the ruling coalition." "The president is on the side of normative reality, while the prime minister starts from the reality on the ground and consequences of all the things that happened in Kosovo in the last 15 to 20 years.There is a major discrepancy there," Simic said. "If the difference in views on the platform further deepened, that could lead to early elections in Serbia," according to him. Predrag Simic (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

"Kosovo platform could force early elections"

"It is already creating a certain crisis in the ruling coalition".

The difference of opinion between the president and prime minister arose in relation to the platform content, but also the character of the negotiations held under the auspices of Brussels, this former ambassador, now professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences, told Novi Sad-based daily Dnevnik.

"While the president, or at least the platform that was drafted on his initiative, is advocating “the stands in principle, an attempt to formulate the country's policy on that issue,” the prime minister is taking much more pragmatic view which points out that the previous experience demonstrates that starting from such clearly stated stands would in fact paralyze the talks with Priština, and thus affect the relations with the EU," Simić noted.

At the moment, it is rather hard to predict the way in which things will unfold, he said, noting that there are elements of "a severe political crisis within the ruling coalition."

"The president is on the side of normative reality, while the prime minister starts from the reality on the ground and consequences of all the things that happened in Kosovo in the last 15 to 20 years.There is a major discrepancy there," Simić said.

"If the difference in views on the platform further deepened, that could lead to early elections in Serbia," according to him.