Pundits interpret Vulin's "great powers" comment

Pundits interpret Vulin's "great powers" comment

"There's a grain of truth in what Vulin is saying, but it is too simplistic and hypocritical coming from someone who came to power thanks to the displeasure of those same centers of power with the previous government in Serbia," Vukadinović commented for the Beta news agency.

He said that, "according to some, such a situation is possible -i.e., that foreigners do not like strong leadership." But in that case, Vukadinović continued, this is equally true for Vučić's predecessors at the top level, especially for Vojislav Koštunica and Boris Tadić, who also came under criticism and lost favor with the West after the initial support they enjoyed.

Vukadinović added that it is "generally better for great powers to have two or more actors on the political scene who are cooperative and competing for their favor."

"Such was the situation between 2010 and 2012 when the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) was created with the 'blessing' of these same centers of power that Vulin now accuses," remarked the analyst.

But, he continued, there is also the theory that what suits western countries are precisely "strong local players" in this region, who collude with them and ensure the preservation of their interests, stability, and "a straight-forward political scene."

Vukadinović mentioned Macedonia and Montenegro as examples in favor of this view. "But, that is directly contrary to Vulin's thesis," he noted.

Another political analyst that Beta spoke to, Dejan Vuk Stanković, said that, "at least for now," no one has publicly expressed any objection to the composition and policies of the government of Serbia, and that "the noise in communication with the OSCE and similar factors, is an individual case."

"As far as I know, the current prime minister of Serbia communicates with all major powers in the world. Moreover, there is willingness to support the position of the state policy represented by him, and that concerns the progress in European policy and the solving the Kosovo problem," he said.

Stanković believes that Vulin's reaction shows "the level of fear in the ruling coalition that they will not be fully supported, or will be criticized for some decisions." According to him, it also shows "an excessive dose of concern over the current disagreement between the prime minister and the OSCE."