Analysts: Election campaign begins

A statement made by Mladjan Dinkic taking "some credit" for Boris Tadic's presidential victory in 2008 raises several questions, say analysts. They are concerned about the state of relations within the ruling coalition, and also that the tone of the statement made during recent interview could mean that an election campaign has already begun. Analysts: Election campaign begins Dinkic, who is economy minister and one of the deputy PMs, and leader of G17 Plus, said his promises made nearly three years ago that are yet to materialize helped Tadic get reelected. During the presidential elections campaign in late 2007 and early 2008, Dinkic claimed that Serbians would get EUR 1,000 in free shares from privatizations of large state owned companies. Thus far, the citizens have received shares worth some EUR 25. In parallel to this, there have been almost daily debates as to whether the current government, put together in the spring of 2008, should undergo changes, with some ministers voicing opposing opinions regarding a possible reshuffle. One of the deputy presidents of Tadic's ruling DS, Jelena Trivan, reacted to Dinkic's interview by saying it was "inappropriate for anyone to hide behind the president's name because of their unfulfilled promises". Trivan also said that "all political parties are aware there will be elections in a year and a half", and added that "politics" had not been destabilized in any way, acknowledging "different interests on local, provincial and state levels". But CeSID Program Director Djordje Vukovic says the Dinkic statement speaks clearly about the relationship between G17 Plus and DS parties. He also noted that Dinkic's United Regions of Serbia did not vote in favor of the Vojvodina budget, which was supported by the opposition Radicals (SRS). "That relationship has not been great before. It was a forced coalition, and all the statements coming from G17 Plus, and even DS, about the relationship between them should be seen in that context," Vukovic explained. NSPM editor-in-chief Djordje Vukadinovic told B92 that an election campaign had begun, and that it would last throughout 2011. This analysts also believes that Mladjan Dinkic will face the next election without the support from the Democrats. "Here's Dinkic in his new clothes, and with the experience he has, he (his party) could run in the next elections alone. I don't think he counts on running with DS, so now he's preparing to attack that threshold that at some point seemed impossible to reach," Vukadinovic said of the rule that says parties must win at least five percent of votes in order to be represented in parliament. "In that context, it doesn't hurt to remind Tadic that he is where he is today thanks to the support he got after Dinkic's EUR 1,000 statement," said the NSPM analyst. Meanwhile, officials of the United Regions of Serbia - a recently formed coalition dominated by G17 Plus - told B92 that their coalition with the Democrats was "functioning", that they were not engaged in an election campaign, and that Dinkic's statement regarding Tadic's reelection was not an attempt to deflect responsibility. Boris Tadic and Mladjan Dinkic seen during a recent G17 Plus gathering (Tanjug)

Analysts: Election campaign begins

Dinkić, who is economy minister and one of the deputy PMs, and leader of G17 Plus, said his promises made nearly three years ago that are yet to materialize helped Tadić get reelected.

During the presidential elections campaign in late 2007 and early 2008, Dinkić claimed that Serbians would get EUR 1,000 in free shares from privatizations of large state owned companies. Thus far, the citizens have received shares worth some EUR 25.

In parallel to this, there have been almost daily debates as to whether the current government, put together in the spring of 2008, should undergo changes, with some ministers voicing opposing opinions regarding a possible reshuffle.

One of the deputy presidents of Tadić's ruling DS, Jelena Trivan, reacted to Dinkić's interview by saying it was "inappropriate for anyone to hide behind the president's name because of their unfulfilled promises".

Trivan also said that "all political parties are aware there will be elections in a year and a half", and added that "politics" had not been destabilized in any way, acknowledging "different interests on local, provincial and state levels".

But CeSID Program Director Đorđe Vuković says the Dinkić statement speaks clearly about the relationship between G17 Plus and DS parties. He also noted that Dinkić's United Regions of Serbia did not vote in favor of the Vojvodina budget, which was supported by the opposition Radicals (SRS).

"That relationship has not been great before. It was a forced coalition, and all the statements coming from G17 Plus, and even DS, about the relationship between them should be seen in that context," Vuković explained.

NSPM editor-in-chief Đorđe Vukadinović told B92 that an election campaign had begun, and that it would last throughout 2011. This analysts also believes that Mlađan Dinkić will face the next election without the support from the Democrats.

"Here's Dinkić in his new clothes, and with the experience he has, he (his party) could run in the next elections alone. I don't think he counts on running with DS, so now he's preparing to attack that threshold that at some point seemed impossible to reach," Vukadinović said of the rule that says parties must win at least five percent of votes in order to be represented in parliament.

"In that context, it doesn't hurt to remind Tadić that he is where he is today thanks to the support he got after Dinkić's EUR 1,000 statement," said the NSPM analyst.

Meanwhile, officials of the United Regions of Serbia - a recently formed coalition dominated by G17 Plus - told B92 that their coalition with the Democrats was "functioning", that they were not engaged in an election campaign, and that Dinkić's statement regarding Tadić's reelection was not an attempt to deflect responsibility.