Disciplinary measures against SRS rebel faction

The SRS organs have launched disciplinary proceedings against Tomislav Nikolic’s rebel Forward Serbia faction. Serb Radical Party (SRS) Vice-President Dragan Todorovic says that the reason for the move against the rebel members is their participation “in activities and promoting positions contrary to the party’s policy and reputation”. Disciplinary measures against SRS rebel faction Nikolic is criticized for his unauthorized removal of documents from archives—specifically, MPs’ resignation letters. At the start of last night’s meeting of the 15-member party presidency, without the presence of Tomislav Nikolic, Aleksandar Vucic, Bozidar Delic, and one other member whose name has yet to be released, it was agreed with party leader Vojislav Seselj that the Central Fatherland Committee should convene on Friday, while a session of the party’s executive board would be called later. “We’re acting the only way we can according to the party code. When we finish this disciplinary procedure, once they’re no longer SRS members, we will ask for their mandates to be withdrawn on the basis of the Constitution that guarantees that mandates won at elections belong to the parties,” said Todorovic. In response to Nikolic’s request to call a party congress, the party vice-president said that Nikolic did not know the SRS code and that the situation, according to the code, did not require a congress to be called. SRS Secretary General Aleksandar Vucic’s position is still unknown. Todorovic told journalists last night that Vucic had missed the presidency meeting as he had been away on business, and that he had not spoken to him. “I don’t get into forecasts and I can’t be certain about what other people are thinking. I think the most natural thing would be to speak to each other, and I’m sure it will happen,” said the SRS vice-president. He said that the current goings-on were not the first upheaval in the party and that SRS would get through it. After MP Dobrislav Prelic, who joined the Forward Serbia faction before stating that he had made a mistake, returned his mandate, Todorovic said that he expected the other Forward Serbia members to follow suit. Nikolic, meanwhile, says the reasons why the SRS wants disciplinary actions to be taken against him are unfounded. The former deputy leader said that he was not surprised by the decision and expected to be expelled from the party at the next meeting of the Central Fatherland Committee on Friday. Nikolic said that such a decision would be carried out “on orders from The Hague” in order to prevent party members from making their own choice as to whether to stay or go. He said that it was absurd that he was being accused of betraying the party’s ideology and manifesto, pointing out that "it was me who created that ideology and manifesto.” Press conference at SRS HQ yesterday (FoNet) “Listening to Seselj one last time” Forward Serbia officials did not vote for the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) because of Tomislav Nikolic’s principled decision to “listen to the orders of Serb Radical Party leader Vojislav Seselj one last time,” Forward Serbia member Mileta Poskurica says. Poskurica told a Kragujevac television station that Seselj had known about the SRS’s proposed amendment to the SAA back in June and had accepted it, but then an order later arrived from The Hague that this was no longer possible. He said that Nikolic had been out-voted and that the party had received orders not to vote for the SAA because of changes in the political situation—namely the arrest of Radovan Karadzic, and the Tribunal imposing a defense counsel on Seselj. The Forward Serbia MP said that only a small number of officials had joined Nikolic’s camp because of pressure being put on them from within the party, adding that officials had been summoned to sign an agreement with the SRS stating that if they joined Nikolic’s faction they would be stripped of their mandates. Poskurica said that the various mechanisms of blackmail had shown the undemocratic side of the party. “Aleksandar Vucic has yet to choose which side to take. Of course, it is a difficult moment for a young politician who has to make a rational decision,” the Forward Serbia MP explained. He said that the divisions in the SRS would have an impact throughout Serbia, and that it would show that Nikolic had support as a person who had tried to save the party. “You should trust and help a person with more than two million votes to fight oligarchic influences and the combination of politicians with modest biographies in the party,” Poskurica stressed. He said that Nikolic would go to the Central Fatherland Committee’s session on Friday, although he did not believe that the former SRS deputy leader would be allowed to attend. Poskurica said that a new party would be formed if Nikolic was expelled from the SRS. “We will be forced to organize a new political party that would carry this or some other name with a Radical overtone,” he said.

Disciplinary measures against SRS rebel faction

Nikolić is criticized for his unauthorized removal of documents from archives—specifically, MPs’ resignation letters.

At the start of last night’s meeting of the 15-member party presidency, without the presence of Tomislav Nikolić, Aleksandar Vučić, Božidar Delić, and one other member whose name has yet to be released, it was agreed with party leader Vojislav Šešelj that the Central Fatherland Committee should convene on Friday, while a session of the party’s executive board would be called later.

“We’re acting the only way we can according to the party code. When we finish this disciplinary procedure, once they’re no longer SRS members, we will ask for their mandates to be withdrawn on the basis of the Constitution that guarantees that mandates won at elections belong to the parties,” said Todorović.

In response to Nikolić’s request to call a party congress, the party vice-president said that Nikolić did not know the SRS code and that the situation, according to the code, did not require a congress to be called.

SRS Secretary General Aleksandar Vučić’s position is still unknown. Todorović told journalists last night that Vučić had missed the presidency meeting as he had been away on business, and that he had not spoken to him.

“I don’t get into forecasts and I can’t be certain about what other people are thinking. I think the most natural thing would be to speak to each other, and I’m sure it will happen,” said the SRS vice-president.

He said that the current goings-on were not the first upheaval in the party and that SRS would get through it. After MP Dobrislav Prelić, who joined the Forward Serbia faction before stating that he had made a mistake, returned his mandate, Todorović said that he expected the other Forward Serbia members to follow suit.

Nikolić, meanwhile, says the reasons why the SRS wants disciplinary actions to be taken against him are unfounded.

The former deputy leader said that he was not surprised by the decision and expected to be expelled from the party at the next meeting of the Central Fatherland Committee on Friday.

Nikolić said that such a decision would be carried out “on orders from The Hague” in order to prevent party members from making their own choice as to whether to stay or go.

He said that it was absurd that he was being accused of betraying the party’s ideology and manifesto, pointing out that "it was me who created that ideology and manifesto.”

“Listening to Šešelj one last time”

Forward Serbia officials did not vote for the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) because of Tomislav Nikolić’s principled decision to “listen to the orders of Serb Radical Party leader Vojislav Šešelj one last time,” Forward Serbia member Mileta Poskurica says.

Poskurica told a Kragujevac television station that Šešelj had known about the SRS’s proposed amendment to the SAA back in June and had accepted it, but then an order later arrived from The Hague that this was no longer possible.

He said that Nikolić had been out-voted and that the party had received orders not to vote for the SAA because of changes in the political situation—namely the arrest of Radovan Karadžić, and the Tribunal imposing a defense counsel on Šešelj.

The Forward Serbia MP said that only a small number of officials had joined Nikolić’s camp because of pressure being put on them from within the party, adding that officials had been summoned to sign an agreement with the SRS stating that if they joined Nikolić’s faction they would be stripped of their mandates.

Poskurica said that the various mechanisms of blackmail had shown the undemocratic side of the party.

“Aleksandar Vučić has yet to choose which side to take. Of course, it is a difficult moment for a young politician who has to make a rational decision,” the Forward Serbia MP explained.

He said that the divisions in the SRS would have an impact throughout Serbia, and that it would show that Nikolić had support as a person who had tried to save the party.

“You should trust and help a person with more than two million votes to fight oligarchic influences and the combination of politicians with modest biographies in the party,” Poskurica stressed.

He said that Nikolić would go to the Central Fatherland Committee’s session on Friday, although he did not believe that the former SRS deputy leader would be allowed to attend.

Poskurica said that a new party would be formed if Nikolić was expelled from the SRS.

“We will be forced to organize a new political party that would carry this or some other name with a Radical overtone,” he said.