Opposition SNS party leader starts hunger strike

Opposition SNS party leader Tomislav Nikolic, who has embarked on a hunger strike this morning, is now at the Serbian parliament building. The leader of the opposition party announced his decision during a protest rally in Belgrade earlier on Saturday, and also said he would not take any water. Opposition SNS party leader starts hunger strike The rally was asking the authorities to call early parliamentary elections in Serbia. Nikolic arrived at the parliament building at around 18:30 CET, and is located at his party's MP club premises. Earlier in the day, speaking to those gathered at the rally, he called on them to "prepare to finish the job started today during the next week". Upon arriving at the parliament Nikolic told a B92 TV crew that he felt well and that he intended to stay there for as long as his health allowed. The SNS leader also stated he did not expect any reaction from the ruling DS president and the country's president, Boris Tadic. "He knows what will happen, we have known each other long enough for him to know I'm serious," said Nikolic, and added that Tadic has "a sleepless night ahead of him". His party, Nikolic continued, had offered "all possible concessions" while at this point, he "does not care about Tadic at all". Nikolic was scheduled to take part in B92 TV's Impression of the Week talk show late on Sunday, and so far there has been no cancellation from his camp. Speaking to our reporter this eveingin, he stated that SNS refused to have early elections held in January, "because that would mean the ruling parties would be campaigning from Catholic until Orthodox christmases, something the opposition could not do". Nikolic arrived at the parliament building flanked by his deputy Akeksandar Vucic and coalition partner and New Serbia party leader Velimir Ilic. Nikolic's wife Dragica is also by his side, and when asked about his decision to start a hunger strike, she said, "that's his choice", with tears in her eyes. Our reporter says that Nikolc then embraced his wife and "also had tears in his eyes". A person who has had no liquid intake in 48 hours would lose consciousness, according to doctors. At that point, they would be obligated by law to provide liquids to the patient intravenously. Doctors who have seen Nikolic late on Saturday said that he was doing well for the time being. See more photos Tomislav Nikolic and wife Dragica (Tanjug) "The world's most expensive chair" As Tomislav Nikolic left for the parliament building, Aleksandar Vucic called on those gathered in front to peacefully disperse, and added that this was Nikolic's plea. But Vucic told the protesters that "they should not think of it as the end of the protest", and added: "an even bigger gathering will be organized next week", however, without giving any details. His statement was greeted with boos, to which Vucic responded by saying that should Nikolic be transferred to the hospital, the opposition would organize campaign "that would last until they end in final victory". The ruling Democrats (DS) reaction to the hunger strike, he said, showed that Tadic was not interested in Nikolic's actions, thus demonstrating that "his chair is the world's most expensive". Those gathered reacted by chanting, "let's go to Dedinje", in reference to Belgrade's elite neighborhood. Forcing elections Earlier on Saturday, Nikolic addressed the rally and said that he would continue the strike until the government set a date for early general elections. “Serbian President Boris Tadic has turned down all of the SNS offers and accused the party of undermining the rule of law,” he stressed. According to him, the strike is his last offer to the government and a personal sacrifice. He claims it is his last ditched effort in a fight for a better Serbia and asked the government to call the election when something bad happens to him. "This is my way, and I know no other nor approve of any other. Do not fail me, for I will not fail you as long as I live," he told the crowd. “The government does not want an election because they do not want the public to know what has been done over the last 11 years,” Nikolic believes. "We talked (with Tadic) the day before yesterday, and I was invited to that meeting only to be accused in the worst possible way of undermining the rule of law," the SNS leader remarked. “The SNS supporters will not vandalize Belgrade, but will instead sacrifice themselves,” he stressed, adding that the rally would be extended, but the people would still get home in time. The opposition rally dubbed “Day for Changes” started a little after noon in Belgrade. Organizers, opposition parties led by the Serb Progressive Party (SNS), announced earlier that it would be a peaceful, dignified, Gandhian rally and that their most important goal was to get the government to accept their request to call early parliamentary elections. SNS leader Tomislav Nikolic said earlier this morning that he expected that the authorities would today decide to hold the early elections on December 18, because the Progressives, as he said, would make an offer at the rally that nobody would be able to ignore. However, he did not elaborate on the offer. The SNS expected about 100,000 people at the rally, which is much more than at the last rally held in February in Belgrade. The party, formed in 2008 as an offshoot of the Serb Radicals (SRS), is yet to take part in a parliamentary elections, but polls as the country's most popular. (Beta)

Opposition SNS party leader starts hunger strike

The rally was asking the authorities to call early parliamentary elections in Serbia.

Nikolić arrived at the parliament building at around 18:30 CET, and is located at his party's MP club premises.

Earlier in the day, speaking to those gathered at the rally, he called on them to "prepare to finish the job started today during the next week".

Upon arriving at the parliament Nikolić told a B92 TV crew that he felt well and that he intended to stay there for as long as his health allowed.

The SNS leader also stated he did not expect any reaction from the ruling DS president and the country's president, Boris Tadić.

"He knows what will happen, we have known each other long enough for him to know I'm serious," said Nikolić, and added that Tadić has "a sleepless night ahead of him".

His party, Nikolić continued, had offered "all possible concessions" while at this point, he "does not care about Tadić at all".

Nikolić was scheduled to take part in B92 TV's Impression of the Week talk show late on Sunday, and so far there has been no cancellation from his camp.

Speaking to our reporter this eveingin, he stated that SNS refused to have early elections held in January, "because that would mean the ruling parties would be campaigning from Catholic until Orthodox christmases, something the opposition could not do".

Nikolić arrived at the parliament building flanked by his deputy Akeksandar Vučić and coalition partner and New Serbia party leader Velimir Ilić.

Nikolić's wife Dragica is also by his side, and when asked about his decision to start a hunger strike, she said, "that's his choice", with tears in her eyes. Our reporter says that Nikolć then embraced his wife and "also had tears in his eyes".

A person who has had no liquid intake in 48 hours would lose consciousness, according to doctors. At that point, they would be obligated by law to provide liquids to the patient intravenously. Doctors who have seen Nikolić late on Saturday said that he was doing well for the time being.

See more photos

"The world's most expensive chair"

As Tomislav Nikolić left for the parliament building, Aleksandar Vučić called on those gathered in front to peacefully disperse, and added that this was Nikolić's plea.

But Vučić told the protesters that "they should not think of it as the end of the protest", and added: "an even bigger gathering will be organized next week", however, without giving any details.

His statement was greeted with boos, to which Vučić responded by saying that should Nikolić be transferred to the hospital, the opposition would organize campaign "that would last until they end in final victory".

The ruling Democrats (DS) reaction to the hunger strike, he said, showed that Tadić was not interested in Nikolić's actions, thus demonstrating that "his chair is the world's most expensive".

Those gathered reacted by chanting, "let's go to Dedinje", in reference to Belgrade's elite neighborhood.

Forcing elections

Earlier on Saturday, Nikolić addressed the rally and said that he would continue the strike until the government set a date for early general elections.

“Serbian President Boris Tadić has turned down all of the SNS offers and accused the party of undermining the rule of law,” he stressed.

According to him, the strike is his last offer to the government and a personal sacrifice.

He claims it is his last ditched effort in a fight for a better Serbia and asked the government to call the election when something bad happens to him.

"This is my way, and I know no other nor approve of any other. Do not fail me, for I will not fail you as long as I live," he told the crowd.

“The government does not want an election because they do not want the public to know what has been done over the last 11 years,” Nikolić believes.

"We talked (with Tadić) the day before yesterday, and I was invited to that meeting only to be accused in the worst possible way of undermining the rule of law," the SNS leader remarked.

“The SNS supporters will not vandalize Belgrade, but will instead sacrifice themselves,” he stressed, adding that the rally would be extended, but the people would still get home in time.

The opposition rally dubbed “Day for Changes” started a little after noon in Belgrade.

Organizers, opposition parties led by the Serb Progressive Party (SNS), announced earlier that it would be a peaceful, dignified, Gandhian rally and that their most important goal was to get the government to accept their request to call early parliamentary elections.

SNS leader Tomislav Nikolić said earlier this morning that he expected that the authorities would today decide to hold the early elections on December 18, because the Progressives, as he said, would make an offer at the rally that nobody would be able to ignore.

However, he did not elaborate on the offer.

The SNS expected about 100,000 people at the rally, which is much more than at the last rally held in February in Belgrade.

The party, formed in 2008 as an offshoot of the Serb Radicals (SRS), is yet to take part in a parliamentary elections, but polls as the country's most popular.