Tadić reacts to accusations of election fraud

Boris Tadic has dismissed accusations of fraud in May 6 elections as false, saying he would "win in the second round of presidential elections despite that". The leader of the Democratic Party (DS) will run against SNS leader Tomislav Nikolic in the May 20 runoff. Tadic reacts to accusations of election fraud Campaigning in the town of Prokuplje on Thursday, Tadic said that his political adversaries were "trying to make waves in Serbia and turn regular elections into a so-called turnaround". "They now wish to ascribe to us everything that was fit for them to do, and in psychology, that's called projection," the citizens gathered for the rally heard. "They are slinging mud on my face, while mud has been dripping off theirs for the past 20 years, because they themselves sullied it with tier words and deeds, and the evil intentions with which they are calling for aggression to arrive in our streets and squares," Beta news agency quoted Tadic as saying. Accusations of election fraud were heard on Wednesday from Tomislav Nikolic, and also from Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) leder Istvan Pastor. Tadic today told his supporters that "it was not all the same who will be the country's president in the coming period", and went on to describe that decision as being "of utmost importance": "Much will depend on that man and on how responsible he is, and what sort of decisions he makes." "It is also very important what that man did and said in the past, because all that is scrutinized in international relations," concluded Tadic. Tadic in Prokuplje on Thursday (Tanjug) "No irregularities" Tadic was in the southern town of Nis later on Thursday, where he stated that there were no irregularities in the election process in Serbia, and that this was confirmed by the OSCE and the state electoral commission (RIK), who had no objections to this process. Tadic added that the claims of SNS leader Tomislav Nikolic that the voters' register included 500,000 "dead souls" were only speculation. According to Tadic, all the minor irregularities are being corrected through the electoral process by repeating voting in certain places, like everywhere Europe. He said that the electoral process is best judged by international institutions like the OSCE. Despite the accusations heard from the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) on Thursday, the OSCE announced that the May 6 elections were fair, and that "all participants accepted the results as valid". Tadic reiterated that forming a parliamentary majority would be discussed after May 20, because it would be irresponsible to talk about that now. "The election process has not ended. Democracy means completing the electoral process through voting," Tadic said. Presidential elections are of particular importance for the formation of the parliamentary majority and Serbia is united on that issue, he said. He added that he sees today's statement of his political opponents in this context too. "All this is understandable in a political election process. It would be dangerous only if it turned into something else, into violence or bringing into question the democratic character of our society. Those times are past and are far behind us," Tadic said. Beta Tanjug

Tadić reacts to accusations of election fraud

Campaigning in the town of Prokuplje on Thursday, Tadić said that his political adversaries were "trying to make waves in Serbia and turn regular elections into a so-called turnaround".

"They now wish to ascribe to us everything that was fit for them to do, and in psychology, that's called projection," the citizens gathered for the rally heard.

"They are slinging mud on my face, while mud has been dripping off theirs for the past 20 years, because they themselves sullied it with tier words and deeds, and the evil intentions with which they are calling for aggression to arrive in our streets and squares," Beta news agency quoted Tadić as saying.

Accusations of election fraud were heard on Wednesday from Tomislav Nikolić, and also from Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) leder Ištvan Pastor.

Tadić today told his supporters that "it was not all the same who will be the country's president in the coming period", and went on to describe that decision as being "of utmost importance":

"Much will depend on that man and on how responsible he is, and what sort of decisions he makes."

"It is also very important what that man did and said in the past, because all that is scrutinized in international relations," concluded Tadić.

"No irregularities"

Tadić was in the southern town of Niš later on Thursday, where he stated that there were no irregularities in the election process in Serbia, and that this was confirmed by the OSCE and the state electoral commission (RIK), who had no objections to this process.

Tadić added that the claims of SNS leader Tomislav Nikolić that the voters' register included 500,000 "dead souls" were only speculation.

According to Tadić, all the minor irregularities are being corrected through the electoral process by repeating voting in certain places, like everywhere Europe.

He said that the electoral process is best judged by international institutions like the OSCE.

Despite the accusations heard from the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) on Thursday, the OSCE announced that the May 6 elections were fair, and that "all participants accepted the results as valid".

Tadić reiterated that forming a parliamentary majority would be discussed after May 20, because it would be irresponsible to talk about that now.

"The election process has not ended. Democracy means completing the electoral process through voting," Tadić said.

Presidential elections are of particular importance for the formation of the parliamentary majority and Serbia is united on that issue, he said.

He added that he sees today's statement of his political opponents in this context too.

"All this is understandable in a political election process. It would be dangerous only if it turned into something else, into violence or bringing into question the democratic character of our society. Those times are past and are far behind us," Tadić said.