Nikolić remains SRS member, MP

Yesterday's resignation of SRS deputy leader Tomislav Nikolic was the subject of a news conference called by the party officials. Vice-President of the SRS Central Homeland Administration Dragan Todorovic told reporters on Sunday in Belgrade that no one put pressure on the Radicals to declare themselves in favor or against the bill on the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). Nikolic remains SRS member, MP Todorovic added that media are spreading misinformation about the resignation of the former deputy president and Radicals' parliament whip Tomislav Nikolic, and that Nikolic himself contributes to this. Todorovic specified that the decision that the Radicals will not support the SAA was made at the party's presidency meeting and when 14 out of 15 members of the body supported the decision. He added that leader Vojislav Seselj took part in the session via the phone, and that he "knew what was going on". Todorovic pointed out that by the next SRS congress, when a new deputy president will be appointed, the party will be led by Seselj, the presidency, the Central Homeland Administration, and by the district and municipal boards. Todorovic pointed out that there is "no doubt" that Nikolic will remain the party's member and MP. Todorovic speaks during today's news conference (Tanjug) What next for Radicals The news from the Serb Radical Party that its vice president had resigned to all positions held within the party, shows that the undisputed leader is Hague indictee Vojislav Seselj, pundits agreed earlier today. They also said that Nikolic's departure will cost the Radicals, currently the largest opposition and the largest individual party in parliament, some votes. At the same time, it remains unclear how the news will bear on the support of the SRS for the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). The issue of parliamentary confirmation of this deal with the EU fomented the crisis within the party. Nikolic first announced that his MPs would vote in favor, to then on Friday resign as deputy leader and party whip after, reports suggest, he received instructions that the Radicals must vote against. "I resigned indicating by that act that I can handle everything, but not this," Nikolic was quoted as saying. Only a day earlier, Todorovic told B92 Radio that Seselj, too, was in favor of the SAA. Still, this outcome was expected by many, as the conflict between Seselj, incarcerated at the Hague Tribunal on war crimes charges since early 2003, and Nikolic, his deputy and effectively party leader since, first emerged during the May parliamentary ballot. At that time, Nikolic said that Seselj was discussing the future cabinet makeup with Vojislav Kostunica, "behind my back". Several days ago, SRS lawmakers that cursed Boris Tadic in parliament, also mentioned "all Radicals that might be talking to him". Some interpreted this as veiled threats to Nikolic himself. Analyst Slavisa Orlovic told B92 that Seselj is in this way clearing the political field for himself ahead of his return to Serbia from The Hague, since he sees the former party deputy president as serious competition. "When Tomislav Nikolic took over the party, it had 300,000 voters, while Toma added another million more than Seselj had. That only confirms that modernization of the party with Seselj at its helm is impossible," he said, and added, "Maja Gojkovic understood this first, now Nikolic, we'll see how Aleksandar Vucic behaves." "We'll see if he calls on his followers to vote for the SAA, or if he bows to party orders. This will depend on his appraisal of how many people he can count on, should he decide to split the party or establish a new one. For now, the core is faithful to Seselj, in this short phase it has won," Orlovic says. At the same time, NIN weekly reporter Dragan Bujosevic doesn't believe Nikolic will go for forming his own offshoot party, but believes that the SRS will have a far lower rating without him. The Democrats (DS) were the only ones to comment on the news, by saying that Nikolic's resignation was an attempt to reform the SRS and allow the Serbian society to embark on the road of European integrations. Other major parties, such as the Socialists (SRS), New Serbia and G17 Plus, decided to keep quiet, saying only that the resignation is the Radicals' internal affair.

Nikolić remains SRS member, MP

Todorović added that media are spreading misinformation about the resignation of the former deputy president and Radicals' parliament whip Tomislav Nikolić, and that Nikolić himself contributes to this.

Todorović specified that the decision that the Radicals will not support the SAA was made at the party's presidency meeting and when 14 out of 15 members of the body supported the decision.

He added that leader Vojislav Šešelj took part in the session via the phone, and that he "knew what was going on".

Todorović pointed out that by the next SRS congress, when a new deputy president will be appointed, the party will be led by Šešelj, the presidency, the Central Homeland Administration, and by the district and municipal boards.

Todorović pointed out that there is "no doubt" that Nikolić will remain the party's member and MP.

What next for Radicals

The news from the Serb Radical Party that its vice president had resigned to all positions held within the party, shows that the undisputed leader is Hague indictee Vojislav Šešelj, pundits agreed earlier today.

They also said that Nikolić's departure will cost the Radicals, currently the largest opposition and the largest individual party in parliament, some votes.

At the same time, it remains unclear how the news will bear on the support of the SRS for the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA).

The issue of parliamentary confirmation of this deal with the EU fomented the crisis within the party.

Nikolić first announced that his MPs would vote in favor, to then on Friday resign as deputy leader and party whip after, reports suggest, he received instructions that the Radicals must vote against.

"I resigned indicating by that act that I can handle everything, but not this," Nikolić was quoted as saying.

Only a day earlier, Todorović told B92 Radio that Šešelj, too, was in favor of the SAA.

Still, this outcome was expected by many, as the conflict between Šešelj, incarcerated at the Hague Tribunal on war crimes charges since early 2003, and Nikolić, his deputy and effectively party leader since, first emerged during the May parliamentary ballot.

At that time, Nikolić said that Šešelj was discussing the future cabinet makeup with Vojislav Koštunica, "behind my back".

Several days ago, SRS lawmakers that cursed Boris Tadić in parliament, also mentioned "all Radicals that might be talking to him". Some interpreted this as veiled threats to Nikolić himself.

Analyst Slaviša Orlović told B92 that Šešelj is in this way clearing the political field for himself ahead of his return to Serbia from The Hague, since he sees the former party deputy president as serious competition.

"When Tomislav Nikolić took over the party, it had 300,000 voters, while Toma added another million more than Šešelj had. That only confirms that modernization of the party with Šešelj at its helm is impossible," he said, and added, "Maja Gojković understood this first, now Nikolić, we'll see how Aleksandar Vučić behaves."

"We'll see if he calls on his followers to vote for the SAA, or if he bows to party orders. This will depend on his appraisal of how many people he can count on, should he decide to split the party or establish a new one. For now, the core is faithful to Šešelj, in this short phase it has won," Orlović says.

At the same time, NIN weekly reporter Dragan Bujošević doesn't believe Nikolić will go for forming his own offshoot party, but believes that the SRS will have a far lower rating without him.

The Democrats (DS) were the only ones to comment on the news, by saying that Nikolić's resignation was an attempt to reform the SRS and allow the Serbian society to embark on the road of European integrations.

Other major parties, such as the Socialists (SRS), New Serbia and G17 Plus, decided to keep quiet, saying only that the resignation is the Radicals' internal affair.