Radicals and Democrats top elections

we should stay realistic, kostunica will stay prime minister with the help of ds.

ds dosen´t have a political stance/message (except "eu is wonderfull and we should join") and much lesser dignity.

so ds will be the cheapest solution for kostunica.

on the other hand, kostunica declared firstly in that clarity (on russian tv) that eu isn´t his top agenda (if at all).

so he will probabbly wait with the choosing of partners unless us and eu gets realistic over kosovo or stays wrong in that question.

Raso, you are right Kostunica is in the driving seat. Also, he will probably wait till Athisarri presents his pandora's box before making any firm commitments on future govt coalition partners.

There is no surprise with the result and as such the Serbian stance on retaining Kosovo & Metohija stands stronger.

I believe that Serbia needs to reform it's institutions for it's own benefit and should not see the EU as a panacea of economic wealth - it brings along too much politics and bickering stiffeling decisivenes and some with in the EU would argue absurd rules and regulations that hamper economic growth. Kostunica will hopefully push forward reforms but they will be moderated in Serbia's best interest and not specifically about the EU.

Bloody well done Serbia! Ok, you're not just going to walk into closer ties with 'Europe' but maybe that's not such a bad thing. 62% of Serbs eligable to vote actually went to the polls. Compare that with the typical turnout in the UK or the USA! Don't let anyone question your democratic credentials after a performance like that. And don't take any notice of those headline writers whose maths seems to be as bad as their literary skills. By my rekoning, more than 51% of you voted for the 'democratic option' while the Radical 'rump' is still wallowing in it's own slough of prejudice and self-interest (heavy on the self-interest - I lived in 'Seseljgrad' so I saw it every day!. Don't worry too much about the forces of reaction. Those who don't die off, full of bitterness and a thirst for revenge against everyone who disagrees with them will soon realise they'll be better off in a more enlightened political environment. If there's one thing the Radicals are good at, it's spotting an opportunity to feather their own nest. So, time for some of well-deserved self-congratulations and time too to put some pressure on those who'll decide how you're going to be governed for the next few years. Remember, you get the government you deserve. You put them there - now tell them what you want them to do. Good luck Serbia

Thanks Adam for the encouragement of the young generation in Serbia. I think we have to take much more care of our management of expectations inside Serbia and outside in the EU. We are only a few years after bloody war and the implosion of a communist system, economy, society, ... . So let's be realistic what we can expect from Serbian electorate. What is most disappointing for me is a still missing strategy of Europe to deal with the political and economical situation in Serbia and former YU in general. Some nice advices what Serbs should do on Election Day is not sufficient. Not mentioning the crazy visa politics for students from Serbia and other Balkan countries - which is nothing else than a dangerous isolation of this young generation. Or the incredible waste of EU-tax-payers money in fancy projects without any sustainability or at least asking anyone in Serbia if the people really need it. These things make it easy for radicals to tell the people “EU does not want you!”. But most of the young guys I met in Serbia give me hope for change, but it takes time, it’s an organic process of growing. Looking forward to some deeper analysis at B92 about e.g. where SRS or more democratic parties made their points and what is the age, etc. of their electorate.

«The Republic Electoral Commission announced late last night that the Serbian Radical Party was backed by the largest share of the electorate – 28.32%. »

I am not surprised that the Serbs have elected an ultranationalist party. It means that millions of Serbs don't want their war criminals to be sentenced; they do not want democracy; they do not want any participation with the EU; they do not want to recongnize their bloody past; the crimes committed in their name

RE: Kangaroo Court

Slobodan Milosevic was poisoned, former leader of the republic of Krajina, Babich committed suicide, the list goes on.

It will be interesting to see the trial of Ante Gotovina will bring. I dont' think he is directly responsible for cleansing of Krajina, he was just a soldier. The blame should have been Tudjman and US support through Ambassador Galbraith. It was the lower level Croatian and mercenaries who summarily executed old Serbian villages in front of the eyes of Canadian UN peacekeepers who could only idly watch.

The glass can be looked at as being half full or half empty depending on your individual perspective.For positive people it is half full because the pro-democracy forces got a MAJORITY of the vote.Even if the Radicals merged with the Socialists they would still be a MINORITY.The results should give inspiration to the young Serbs in Belgrade who want a European future while retaining their proud Serb identity.As some moderators have pointed out there is a difference between patriotism and nationalism.Patriotism as a form of self-identity can be a positive thing while nationalism can be used as a scoundrels last refuge.We Americans would like to congratulate all freedom loving Serbs who are confident of a better day for ALL the people of the Balkans.Living a life in freedom with dignity is not a national right-it is a HUMAN right.

Mr Gregoric, nobody poisoned Milosevic. He was talking medecine that was not prescribed to him. As for the Americans, they had no other choices but helping the Croats to stop the Serbian agression in Bosnia and free Croatia.

Victor,

Krajina was a UN adminstered safe zone - very similar in essence as the UNMIK adminstartion of Kosovo & Metohija - do you suggest that the US train and aid the Serbs to violently over-run Kosovo & Metohija?

I would be interested in knowing an answer to a question you have failed to answer when I have asked before - Do you consider a Serb life lesser then that of of a Croat, Muslim or any other human?

Yes some Serbs did do evil things against other humans of other ethnic backgrounds but your insistance this was one sided and that only the Serbs committed atrocities is narrow minded to the extreme if not blind of the truth.

The Radicals didn't win anything. They actually lost a seat in parliament compared to the last election December 28, 2003

6,511,450 voters eligible, 3,825,471 (58.75 percent) turn out.

SRS – 1,056,256 (27.61 percent) votes - 82 seats

DSS – 678,031 (17.72 percent) votes - 53 seats

DS – 481,294 (12.58 percent) votes - 37 seats

G17 plus – 438,422 (11.46 percent) votes - 34 seats

SPO-NS – 293,082 (7.66 percent) votes - 22 seats

SPS – 291,341 (7.61 percent) votes - 22 seats

The real winners in these elections was the DS who now have 65 seats in parliament compared to the 37 they had.

hey Victor...

I don´t know much about your math-skills but if you take 28 % of 6 million voters, ...
where do you see millionS?

that´s really the problem with the Albanian posters here, when it is about the percentage of km² they want to have handed over to them they all of a sudden manage to count it down to 12 %...

on the other side if arguing with the ammount of voters for the radicals then they are discovering MILLIONS of them...

lousy math skills or just selective perception ( or even both )

The "high" turnout for supporters of the Radicals simply is an expression of frustration towards the Policies of the West and how they treat Serbia. The West certainly made it seem at the time that if Serbia only arrested Milosevic and sent him to the Hague that relations would return to normal. The West also made promises in Resolution 1244 at the UN which they clearly did not honor. Is it any wonder that a significant portion of the population would gravitate towards Russia and not the EU? I do not think this is any indication of support for the policies of Milosevic or a return to violence and ethnic cleansing.

Serbia should strike a balance between the EU and Russia and continue to build bridges with both of these world super powers. To me it seems the election results confirm that the Serbian population itself feels this way. Keep in mind that leaning towards the EU and the West does not equate to Democracy. The fact that the Serbian population is so split is a very good indication that Democracy does in fact exist and is very strong. I am not a fan of the Radicals, but all this talk about being Democratic or not is really absurd, how can a valid and fair election be undemocratic?

Its clearly evident that those countries entering into the EU now will have only second class status without the same rights of movement and employment that those countries who joined early already have. In addition, I predict new additions will also have their right to vote in EU limited in an effort to make the EU more "easy" to govern and that it will start to resemble a collection of "Have's" and "Have-Not's". With both Serbia AND Albania being in the Have-Not club.

Right now is not the time to join the EU, who's future is uncertain at this time. We should focus on improving the economy and engaging in trade with the EU and visa relaxation. We should also strengthen our ties to Russia and use that as a balance to the EU. Serbia should take a middle course in dealings with other countries and continue to be involved in the Non-Aligned movement. This type of strategy will allow Serbia to play a similar role in Europe to the role that Tito played on the International Stage.

Regardless of the outcome of the status discussions of Kosovo, we should work towards developing religious tourism to our Holy Sites and Cultural Heritage. Changing the view of the Kosovar Albanians towards our Religious Monuments from one of a personal liability to that of an economic necessity will ensure the safety and survival of those areas which mean the most to us. The protection of our cultural and religious history is probably the most important issue for Serbia's future, and something that touches the heart of all Serbs the world over. Those who are poor and destitute have nothing to lose, those who possess high standards of living only want to maintain the status quo. It’s a real shame that the Kosovo Albanians so fear for their safety that they can not see the possible economic advantages in staying with Serbia. Albanians and Serbs share much more in common with one another then differences. A glance at the posts here at B92 clearly proves that we both react and think in a very similar fashion, we are nearly identical, like it or not. I predict someday that future generations will embrace that concept and live in peace in one country, whether that's a united EU or Serbia is merely a matter of conjecture and won't matter in a few hundred years.

Just please, I'm asking politely, don't blow up any more of our Churches right now. I'm sorry for your suffering, just please don't punish me, I didn't do anything to anyone. I just want to be able to visit my Churches and my religious sites in peace when it all calms down.

Thanks to everyone...

«Do you consider a Serb life lesser than that of a Croat, Muslim or any other human? »

My answer in NO! All humans are equal. All ethnic groups have committed their atrocities, but the Serbs on a larger scale. THey were the aggressors; they had a PLAN to create GREATER SERBIA, and racial purification was a part of the plan, the elimination of civilians, etc. It is why I consider the Serbs more responsible for what happened than the Croats or the Bosniacs. The only thing the wanted was their independance, after the collapse of the USSR, to create their own country. But this option was not part of the Serbian plan!

we should stay realistic, kostunica will stay prime minister with the help of ds.

ds dosen´t have a political stance/message (except "eu is wonderfull and we should join") and much lesser dignity.

so ds will be the cheapest solution for kostunica.

on the other hand, kostunica declared firstly in that clarity (on russian tv) that eu isn´t his top agenda (if at all).

so he will probabbly wait with the choosing of partners unless us and eu gets realistic over kosovo or stays wrong in that question.

Raso, you are right Kostunica is in the driving seat. Also, he will probably wait till Athisarri presents his pandora's box before making any firm commitments on future govt coalition partners.

There is no surprise with the result and as such the Serbian stance on retaining Kosovo & Metohija stands stronger.

I believe that Serbia needs to reform it's institutions for it's own benefit and should not see the EU as a panacea of economic wealth - it brings along too much politics and bickering stiffeling decisivenes and some with in the EU would argue absurd rules and regulations that hamper economic growth. Kostunica will hopefully push forward reforms but they will be moderated in Serbia's best interest and not specifically about the EU.

Bloody well done Serbia! Ok, you're not just going to walk into closer ties with 'Europe' but maybe that's not such a bad thing. 62% of Serbs eligable to vote actually went to the polls. Compare that with the typical turnout in the UK or the USA! Don't let anyone question your democratic credentials after a performance like that. And don't take any notice of those headline writers whose maths seems to be as bad as their literary skills. By my rekoning, more than 51% of you voted for the 'democratic option' while the Radical 'rump' is still wallowing in it's own slough of prejudice and self-interest (heavy on the self-interest - I lived in 'Seseljgrad' so I saw it every day!. Don't worry too much about the forces of reaction. Those who don't die off, full of bitterness and a thirst for revenge against everyone who disagrees with them will soon realise they'll be better off in a more enlightened political environment. If there's one thing the Radicals are good at, it's spotting an opportunity to feather their own nest. So, time for some of well-deserved self-congratulations and time too to put some pressure on those who'll decide how you're going to be governed for the next few years. Remember, you get the government you deserve. You put them there - now tell them what you want them to do. Good luck Serbia

Thanks Adam for the encouragement of the young generation in Serbia. I think we have to take much more care of our management of expectations inside Serbia and outside in the EU. We are only a few years after bloody war and the implosion of a communist system, economy, society, ... . So let's be realistic what we can expect from Serbian electorate. What is most disappointing for me is a still missing strategy of Europe to deal with the political and economical situation in Serbia and former YU in general. Some nice advices what Serbs should do on Election Day is not sufficient. Not mentioning the crazy visa politics for students from Serbia and other Balkan countries - which is nothing else than a dangerous isolation of this young generation. Or the incredible waste of EU-tax-payers money in fancy projects without any sustainability or at least asking anyone in Serbia if the people really need it. These things make it easy for radicals to tell the people “EU does not want you!”. But most of the young guys I met in Serbia give me hope for change, but it takes time, it’s an organic process of growing. Looking forward to some deeper analysis at B92 about e.g. where SRS or more democratic parties made their points and what is the age, etc. of their electorate.

«The Republic Electoral Commission announced late last night that the Serbian Radical Party was backed by the largest share of the electorate – 28.32%. »

I am not surprised that the Serbs have elected an ultranationalist party. It means that millions of Serbs don't want their war criminals to be sentenced; they do not want democracy; they do not want any participation with the EU; they do not want to recongnize their bloody past; the crimes committed in their name

RE: Kangaroo Court

Slobodan Milosevic was poisoned, former leader of the republic of Krajina, Babich committed suicide, the list goes on.

It will be interesting to see the trial of Ante Gotovina will bring. I dont' think he is directly responsible for cleansing of Krajina, he was just a soldier. The blame should have been Tudjman and US support through Ambassador Galbraith. It was the lower level Croatian and mercenaries who summarily executed old Serbian villages in front of the eyes of Canadian UN peacekeepers who could only idly watch.

The glass can be looked at as being half full or half empty depending on your individual perspective.For positive people it is half full because the pro-democracy forces got a MAJORITY of the vote.Even if the Radicals merged with the Socialists they would still be a MINORITY.The results should give inspiration to the young Serbs in Belgrade who want a European future while retaining their proud Serb identity.As some moderators have pointed out there is a difference between patriotism and nationalism.Patriotism as a form of self-identity can be a positive thing while nationalism can be used as a scoundrels last refuge.We Americans would like to congratulate all freedom loving Serbs who are confident of a better day for ALL the people of the Balkans.Living a life in freedom with dignity is not a national right-it is a HUMAN right.

Mr Gregoric, nobody poisoned Milosevic. He was talking medecine that was not prescribed to him. As for the Americans, they had no other choices but helping the Croats to stop the Serbian agression in Bosnia and free Croatia.

Victor,

Krajina was a UN adminstered safe zone - very similar in essence as the UNMIK adminstartion of Kosovo & Metohija - do you suggest that the US train and aid the Serbs to violently over-run Kosovo & Metohija?

I would be interested in knowing an answer to a question you have failed to answer when I have asked before - Do you consider a Serb life lesser then that of of a Croat, Muslim or any other human?

Yes some Serbs did do evil things against other humans of other ethnic backgrounds but your insistance this was one sided and that only the Serbs committed atrocities is narrow minded to the extreme if not blind of the truth.

The Radicals didn't win anything. They actually lost a seat in parliament compared to the last election December 28, 2003

6,511,450 voters eligible, 3,825,471 (58.75 percent) turn out.

SRS – 1,056,256 (27.61 percent) votes - 82 seats

DSS – 678,031 (17.72 percent) votes - 53 seats

DS – 481,294 (12.58 percent) votes - 37 seats

G17 plus – 438,422 (11.46 percent) votes - 34 seats

SPO-NS – 293,082 (7.66 percent) votes - 22 seats

SPS – 291,341 (7.61 percent) votes - 22 seats

The real winners in these elections was the DS who now have 65 seats in parliament compared to the 37 they had.

hey Victor...

I don´t know much about your math-skills but if you take 28 % of 6 million voters, ...
where do you see millionS?

that´s really the problem with the Albanian posters here, when it is about the percentage of km² they want to have handed over to them they all of a sudden manage to count it down to 12 %...

on the other side if arguing with the ammount of voters for the radicals then they are discovering MILLIONS of them...

lousy math skills or just selective perception ( or even both )

The "high" turnout for supporters of the Radicals simply is an expression of frustration towards the Policies of the West and how they treat Serbia. The West certainly made it seem at the time that if Serbia only arrested Milosevic and sent him to the Hague that relations would return to normal. The West also made promises in Resolution 1244 at the UN which they clearly did not honor. Is it any wonder that a significant portion of the population would gravitate towards Russia and not the EU? I do not think this is any indication of support for the policies of Milosevic or a return to violence and ethnic cleansing.

Serbia should strike a balance between the EU and Russia and continue to build bridges with both of these world super powers. To me it seems the election results confirm that the Serbian population itself feels this way. Keep in mind that leaning towards the EU and the West does not equate to Democracy. The fact that the Serbian population is so split is a very good indication that Democracy does in fact exist and is very strong. I am not a fan of the Radicals, but all this talk about being Democratic or not is really absurd, how can a valid and fair election be undemocratic?

Its clearly evident that those countries entering into the EU now will have only second class status without the same rights of movement and employment that those countries who joined early already have. In addition, I predict new additions will also have their right to vote in EU limited in an effort to make the EU more "easy" to govern and that it will start to resemble a collection of "Have's" and "Have-Not's". With both Serbia AND Albania being in the Have-Not club.

Right now is not the time to join the EU, who's future is uncertain at this time. We should focus on improving the economy and engaging in trade with the EU and visa relaxation. We should also strengthen our ties to Russia and use that as a balance to the EU. Serbia should take a middle course in dealings with other countries and continue to be involved in the Non-Aligned movement. This type of strategy will allow Serbia to play a similar role in Europe to the role that Tito played on the International Stage.

Regardless of the outcome of the status discussions of Kosovo, we should work towards developing religious tourism to our Holy Sites and Cultural Heritage. Changing the view of the Kosovar Albanians towards our Religious Monuments from one of a personal liability to that of an economic necessity will ensure the safety and survival of those areas which mean the most to us. The protection of our cultural and religious history is probably the most important issue for Serbia's future, and something that touches the heart of all Serbs the world over. Those who are poor and destitute have nothing to lose, those who possess high standards of living only want to maintain the status quo. It’s a real shame that the Kosovo Albanians so fear for their safety that they can not see the possible economic advantages in staying with Serbia. Albanians and Serbs share much more in common with one another then differences. A glance at the posts here at B92 clearly proves that we both react and think in a very similar fashion, we are nearly identical, like it or not. I predict someday that future generations will embrace that concept and live in peace in one country, whether that's a united EU or Serbia is merely a matter of conjecture and won't matter in a few hundred years.

Just please, I'm asking politely, don't blow up any more of our Churches right now. I'm sorry for your suffering, just please don't punish me, I didn't do anything to anyone. I just want to be able to visit my Churches and my religious sites in peace when it all calms down.

Thanks to everyone...

«Do you consider a Serb life lesser than that of a Croat, Muslim or any other human? »

My answer in NO! All humans are equal. All ethnic groups have committed their atrocities, but the Serbs on a larger scale. THey were the aggressors; they had a PLAN to create GREATER SERBIA, and racial purification was a part of the plan, the elimination of civilians, etc. It is why I consider the Serbs more responsible for what happened than the Croats or the Bosniacs. The only thing the wanted was their independance, after the collapse of the USSR, to create their own country. But this option was not part of the Serbian plan!