SNS to take Serbia to Strasbourg court?

The opposition Serb Progressive Party (SNS) could soon launch a lawsuit against the state of Serbia before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Daily Vecernje Novosti writes on Saturday that the party is contemplating this move after it was stripped of 580 seats in municipal councils across Serbia. SNS to take Serbia to Strasbourg court? Party leader Tomislav Nikolic told the newspaper that the SNS will still look to use all its legal options in Serbia before going international with its complaints. He added that SNS councilors have filed many complaints, but that the costs are enormous, with the party lacking funds to finance them. "I think that the case of our councilors is ripe to go even before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Before, I respected the principle that the state must not be sued, even when Milosevic stole from us [Radicals] in Kosovo taking 50 mandates, but now the situation is different," said Nikolic. The former Serb Radical Party (SRS) number two also stated that the current government "must accept European values", and added that "according to those, MPs and councilors are the owners of their mandates". After the split in the SRS last fall – which produced the SNS – the new party held on to 613 seats in local assemblies, but was stripped of 580, and left with 33. In the May 2008 local elections, the Radicals won a total of 1,586 mandates for councilors across the country.

SNS to take Serbia to Strasbourg court?

Party leader Tomislav Nikolić told the newspaper that the SNS will still look to use all its legal options in Serbia before going international with its complaints.

He added that SNS councilors have filed many complaints, but that the costs are enormous, with the party lacking funds to finance them.

"I think that the case of our councilors is ripe to go even before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Before, I respected the principle that the state must not be sued, even when Milošević stole from us [Radicals] in Kosovo taking 50 mandates, but now the situation is different," said Nikolić.

The former Serb Radical Party (SRS) number two also stated that the current government "must accept European values", and added that "according to those, MPs and councilors are the owners of their mandates".

After the split in the SRS last fall – which produced the SNS – the new party held on to 613 seats in local assemblies, but was stripped of 580, and left with 33. In the May 2008 local elections, the Radicals won a total of 1,586 mandates for councilors across the country.