Opposition party: Election date "no longer important"

The presidency of the opposition Serb Progressive Party (SNS) met today in Belgrade to ask leader Tomislav Nikolic to end his hunger strike. Nikolic, who is currently hospitalized in a private clinic, started his protest a week ago attempting to force the authorities to call early elections. Opposition party: Election date "no longer important" His deputy Aleksandar Vucic declared Nikolic "a winner", and said this was "because the citizens understood that he was ready to sacrifice himself for Serbia". Vucic said the presidency decided to ask Nikolic to end his strike, since "Serbia needs a healthy and active SNS leader, who would fight until the final breakdown of the regime". The Progressives will this evening gather in front of the clinic where Nikolic is being treated to call their leader to end his strike. As for the reason Nikolic embarked on this form of protest, Vucic said the party "no longer finds he date of elections important, whether they would be regular or early", and added SNS "will no longer discuss this with the authorities". "Our goal is to see Nikolic leave the hospital, and they can call elections whenever they want, we'll beat them with a 15 or more percent margin," said Vucic. He added that Nikolic received a letter from EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule who called on him to continue the political dialogue within institutions and find a compromise that is of vital importance to Serbia's EU integration. While Nikolic respects the word of "both Patriarch Irinej and Commissioner Fule", explained Vucic, the most important message for the SNS leader is that coming "from his people". Nikolic announced on Thursday that he decided to end his thirst strike after an appeal from SPC Patriarch Irinej, but said he would continue his hunger strike. Reports on Friday morning said that his medical condition was "stable". Aleksandar Vucic (FoNet, file)

Opposition party: Election date "no longer important"

His deputy Aleksandar Vučić declared Nikolić "a winner", and said this was "because the citizens understood that he was ready to sacrifice himself for Serbia".

Vučić said the presidency decided to ask Nikolić to end his strike, since "Serbia needs a healthy and active SNS leader, who would fight until the final breakdown of the regime".

The Progressives will this evening gather in front of the clinic where Nikolić is being treated to call their leader to end his strike.

As for the reason Nikolić embarked on this form of protest, Vučić said the party "no longer finds he date of elections important, whether they would be regular or early", and added SNS "will no longer discuss this with the authorities".

"Our goal is to see Nikolić leave the hospital, and they can call elections whenever they want, we'll beat them with a 15 or more percent margin," said Vučić.

He added that Nikolić received a letter from EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule who called on him to continue the political dialogue within institutions and find a compromise that is of vital importance to Serbia's EU integration.

While Nikolić respects the word of "both Patriarch Irinej and Commissioner Fule", explained Vučić, the most important message for the SNS leader is that coming "from his people".

Nikolić announced on Thursday that he decided to end his thirst strike after an appeal from SPC Patriarch Irinej, but said he would continue his hunger strike.

Reports on Friday morning said that his medical condition was "stable".