December ballot looking likely

Despite the continuing dispute over the election schedule, it’s looking ever more likely that December will be the chosen date. Statements are still emanating from the so-called “national coalition“ – made up of the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and Nova Srbija – that they will refuse to participate in elections if elections go ahead as planned in December, while Parliamentary Speaker Oliver Dulic, from the Democratic Party (DS), has unofficially suggested that he will call elections next week for December 9. December ballot looking likely In order for presidential elections to be called, parliament has to adopt a set of new laws, on the army, defense, the president of the republic, foreign affairs, and the security services. Trade and Services Minister Predrag Bubalo has confirmed that four of the laws are ready for parliamentary procedure, and that the speaker has been made aware of this. “The government will complete these laws very soon and will pass them on for parliamentary procedure, so that there’s enough time to adopt them before December 31, allowing elections to be called by that time,“ he said. The DSS and Nova Srbija continue to call on the Democratic Party (DS) and President Boris Tadic to refrain from holding elections until the Kosovo situation has been settled. Nova Srbija President Velimir Ilic has openly called on his coalition to boycott presidential elections, should they be held before December 10. Tadic was unable to give any answer as to when presidential elections would take place, saying, “I would like to be able to tell you, if I had an answer now I’d tell you, but I don’t, because I still need to consider everything before taking a decision that will affect not only me, but the whole country. That doesn’t mean I’ll take every opinion into account. The final decision will be down to the speaker,“ said Tadic. B92 understands that the Serb Radical Party (SRS), who insist that the government dedicates itself to the Kosovo talks, will take part in elections even if they are held in December. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have also announced their participation, and have selected party leader Cedomir Jovanovic as their candidate, while the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) would most probably boycott December elections. Centre for Free Election and Democracy program director Marko Blagojevic told B92’s Poligraf program that should elections be called in December, the second round would be uncertain. “As far as voter distribution is concerned, there are two favorites to enter the second round: Tadic and SRS leader Tomislav Nikolic, of course. However, the outcome of that second round is very unclear, and will greatly depend on the two candidates’ campaigns, how those campaigns are run and on other circumstances influencing voter motivation, and consequently the final result,“ he said. Constitutional Law stipulates that local, provincial and presidential elections must be called by the end of the year, or within 60 days of the adoption of the last of the necessary laws. Unofficial reports suggest that the DS leadership last night opted to apply the proportional representation system to the coming elections. Oliver Dulic (Beta, archive)

December ballot looking likely

In order for presidential elections to be called, parliament has to adopt a set of new laws, on the army, defense, the president of the republic, foreign affairs, and the security services.

Trade and Services Minister Predrag Bubalo has confirmed that four of the laws are ready for parliamentary procedure, and that the speaker has been made aware of this.

“The government will complete these laws very soon and will pass them on for parliamentary procedure, so that there’s enough time to adopt them before December 31, allowing elections to be called by that time,“ he said.

The DSS and Nova Srbija continue to call on the Democratic Party (DS) and President Boris Tadić to refrain from holding elections until the Kosovo situation has been settled.

Nova Srbija President Velimir Ilić has openly called on his coalition to boycott presidential elections, should they be held before December 10.

Tadić was unable to give any answer as to when presidential elections would take place, saying, “I would like to be able to tell you, if I had an answer now I’d tell you, but I don’t, because I still need to consider everything before taking a decision that will affect not only me, but the whole country. That doesn’t mean I’ll take every opinion into account. The final decision will be down to the speaker,“ said Tadić.

B92 understands that the Serb Radical Party (SRS), who insist that the government dedicates itself to the Kosovo talks, will take part in elections even if they are held in December.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have also announced their participation, and have selected party leader Čedomir Jovanović as their candidate, while the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) would most probably boycott December elections.

Centre for Free Election and Democracy program director Marko Blagojević told B92’s Poligraf program that should elections be called in December, the second round would be uncertain.

“As far as voter distribution is concerned, there are two favorites to enter the second round: Tadić and SRS leader Tomislav Nikolić, of course. However, the outcome of that second round is very unclear, and will greatly depend on the two candidates’ campaigns, how those campaigns are run and on other circumstances influencing voter motivation, and consequently the final result,“ he said.

Constitutional Law stipulates that local, provincial and presidential elections must be called by the end of the year, or within 60 days of the adoption of the last of the necessary laws.

Unofficial reports suggest that the DS leadership last night opted to apply the proportional representation system to the coming elections.