Opposition leader wants elections, talks tough on crime

Leader of the opposition Serb Progressives (SNS) Tomislav Nikolic says he hopes for early parliamentary elections this year. Nikolic was also quoted as saying that he would like to have a "direct showdown" with President Boris Tadic for the post of the head of state. Opposition leader wants elections, talks tough on crime Tadic's ruling Democrats (DS) and SNS are currently neck and neck in public opinion polls. "I'm convinced it would be impossible for him [Tadic] to win. But, my sole ambition is for SNS to lead Serbia and for me to head the government," Nikolic was quoted this Thursday. He added that "great energy" would be aimed at fighting organized crime, once this was achieved. "We have said it in all our campaigns that we would stamp out drugs. Someone must lose their head while at it. All around the world, the fight against narco-mafias means walking a line between life and death, and clearly, because of their comfortable position, politicians, police, the government do not wish to engage in that. I guarantee that we will engage in that, even if that means we'll lose our heads," Nikolic told a local TV outlet in Novi Pazar, southwestern Serbia. Tomislav Nikolic (Tanjug, file)

Opposition leader wants elections, talks tough on crime

Tadić's ruling Democrats (DS) and SNS are currently neck and neck in public opinion polls.

"I'm convinced it would be impossible for him [Tadić] to win. But, my sole ambition is for SNS to lead Serbia and for me to head the government," Nikolić was quoted this Thursday.

He added that "great energy" would be aimed at fighting organized crime, once this was achieved.

"We have said it in all our campaigns that we would stamp out drugs. Someone must lose their head while at it. All around the world, the fight against narco-mafias means walking a line between life and death, and clearly, because of their comfortable position, politicians, police, the government do not wish to engage in that. I guarantee that we will engage in that, even if that means we'll lose our heads," Nikolić told a local TV outlet in Novi Pazar, southwestern Serbia.