BELGRADE -- Political analyst Slaviša Orlović says that the election results should strengthen the position of DS within the cabinet.
Source: B92, Beta
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“I think that the Democratic Party, and first and foremost Boris Tadić, because of the politicy for preserving the country, will move towards stability within the institutions, and that the party will have more initiative in the European course through proactive politicy,” Orlović said.
But the rift between Vojislav Koštunica's DSS, his coalition parters NS, and the newly emerging informal coalition of DS-G17 Plus has grown over the European Union moves concerning Kosovo.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission (RIK) is expected to announce the final results of the presidential ballot today.
Zoran Lučić of the Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CESID), told B92 that the large turnout had the greatest impact on the elections.
He said that no one can say who voters that participated in the first round voted for in the second, adding that these type of statistics require mathematical analysis at every polling station.
The deadline for final election results is Thursday, after which RIK is expected to publish a confirmation of the results.
After this, Tadić would be sworn in by the parliament. Parliamentary Speaker Oliver Dulić has announced that the session for this purpose would be held on February 15.
Meanwhile, pundits continue to analyze the new political reality in Serbia in the wake of Sunday's election.
Beta news agency reports that the president of Transparency Serbia, Vladimir Goati, said MOnday that the outcome of the Serbian presidential election will absolutely affect the stability of the government, as well as internal relations within parties.
Goati told the agency that the outcome of the presidential election could lead to the resignation of Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica, who is the leader of a minority party in the Serbian government, as well as influencing a change in the leadership of the Serb Radical Party (SRS).
"Boris Tadić's victory will only heighten one anomaly in Serbia, namely, the unusual characteristic that the prime minister is not the leader of a central party in the Serbian government, but it will also affect the internal relations within parties, above all, the defeated Serb Radical Party.
Political analyst Zoran Stojiljković added that after Tadić's victory in the presidential election the leader of the Democratic Party will ratchet up the pressure to reconsider relations with the Democratic Party of Serbia, "even at the price of snap parliamentary elections."
Stojiljković also stated that Serbia is facing a period of "high political temperature," and a year of lost investments due to political instability.
Political analyst Jovan Komšić believes that Koštunica is the biggest loser in the presidential election.
"Koštunica can no longer count on the political gain that he figured on until this election," Komšić told Beta, adding that he is expecting the DSS, after the victory of Tadić, to realize that there is "no more interest in continuing to block the Democratic Party's platform on the country's European perspective."
You are right to some extend but if there were general elections DS could not form the government on their own. Even if they make coalition with LDP there will be no enough to form a government. Anyhow it seems that Kostunica is inevitable in any case. Of course people do prefer democratic block together but not at any costs. I personally prefer to stay as it is at this moment but DS and DSS must overcome the disputes.
One thing more, if Serbia is about to lose Kosovo, I believe that Serbian electorate will become even more radical, so I can see next government formed as I stated in previous post. Of course, this is only my opinion.
(bmrusila, 5 February 2008 13:45)
You underestimate the impact of these elections. All elections are somewhat a vote for the lesser evil, as you can never get everything you want in a candidate.
However, the fact that Tadic won without Kostunica's support is important. It means that Tadic won by himself and without the sway of kostunica's influence. Thus Kostunica cannot claim to have delivered the election to Tadic. Yes he picked up some DSS support (possibly most). But this electorate chose for themselves that they would rather support DS than the radicals. Therefore it has been shown that most of the coutry (although it is a slim majority) would prefer a DS led government to a radical led one. DS have a mandate. Therefore if after an election DSS were to side with the radicals it would be a betrayal of the electorate, as that is not what the electorate want. It is also quite likely that it is not what most DSS voters want. Kostunica will be aware of this, and joining with the Radicals could possibly severly damage his party in the future.
(Bruce, 5 February 2008 12:21)
Orlovic is very wrong as the others as well. Wining these presidential elections means absolutely nothing to DS. Boris Tadic got many votes from Kostunica’s electorate. Presidential elections were not any indicator of the DS position in general. In these elections people were voting for lesser evil and due to the fact that they were intimidated by negative campaign led by Boris Tadic, he won. If parliamentary elections were launched soon, I believe that new government would be formed by SRS, DSS and perhaps SPS. Tadic should not forget that he got many votes from those who believed his promises on preserving the country’s sovereignty. Tadic and DS know this and that is why they avoid referendum with the simple question “Would you still prefer integration in the EU after partitioning of the country”?
(bmrusila, 5 February 2008 10:44)
Orlovic is very wrong as the others as well. Wining these presidential elections means absolutely nothing to DS. Boris Tadic got many votes from Kostunica’s electorate. Presidential elections were not any indicator of the DS position in general. In these elections people were voting for lesser evil and due to the fact that they were intimidated by negative campaign led by Boris Tadic, he won. If parliamentary elections were launched soon, I believe that new government would be formed by SRS, DSS and perhaps SPS. Tadic should not forget that he got many votes from those who believed his promises on preserving the country’s sovereignty. Tadic and DS know this and that is why they avoid referendum with the simple question “Would you still prefer integration in the EU after partitioning of the country”?
(bmrusila, 5 February 2008 10:44)
You are right to some extend but if there were general elections DS could not form the government on their own. Even if they make coalition with LDP there will be no enough to form a government. Anyhow it seems that Kostunica is inevitable in any case. Of course people do prefer democratic block together but not at any costs. I personally prefer to stay as it is at this moment but DS and DSS must overcome the disputes.
One thing more, if Serbia is about to lose Kosovo, I believe that Serbian electorate will become even more radical, so I can see next government formed as I stated in previous post. Of course, this is only my opinion.
(bmrusila, 5 February 2008 13:45)
You underestimate the impact of these elections. All elections are somewhat a vote for the lesser evil, as you can never get everything you want in a candidate.
However, the fact that Tadic won without Kostunica's support is important. It means that Tadic won by himself and without the sway of kostunica's influence. Thus Kostunica cannot claim to have delivered the election to Tadic. Yes he picked up some DSS support (possibly most). But this electorate chose for themselves that they would rather support DS than the radicals. Therefore it has been shown that most of the coutry (although it is a slim majority) would prefer a DS led government to a radical led one. DS have a mandate. Therefore if after an election DSS were to side with the radicals it would be a betrayal of the electorate, as that is not what the electorate want. It is also quite likely that it is not what most DSS voters want. Kostunica will be aware of this, and joining with the Radicals could possibly severly damage his party in the future.
(Bruce, 5 February 2008 12:21)
You underestimate the impact of these elections. All elections are somewhat a vote for the lesser evil, as you can never get everything you want in a candidate.
However, the fact that Tadic won without Kostunica's support is important. It means that Tadic won by himself and without the sway of kostunica's influence. Thus Kostunica cannot claim to have delivered the election to Tadic. Yes he picked up some DSS support (possibly most). But this electorate chose for themselves that they would rather support DS than the radicals. Therefore it has been shown that most of the coutry (although it is a slim majority) would prefer a DS led government to a radical led one. DS have a mandate. Therefore if after an election DSS were to side with the radicals it would be a betrayal of the electorate, as that is not what the electorate want. It is also quite likely that it is not what most DSS voters want. Kostunica will be aware of this, and joining with the Radicals could possibly severly damage his party in the future.
(Bruce, 5 February 2008 12:21)
You are right to some extend but if there were general elections DS could not form the government on their own. Even if they make coalition with LDP there will be no enough to form a government. Anyhow it seems that Kostunica is inevitable in any case. Of course people do prefer democratic block together but not at any costs. I personally prefer to stay as it is at this moment but DS and DSS must overcome the disputes.
One thing more, if Serbia is about to lose Kosovo, I believe that Serbian electorate will become even more radical, so I can see next government formed as I stated in previous post. Of course, this is only my opinion.
(bmrusila, 5 February 2008 13:45)
Orlovic is very wrong as the others as well. Wining these presidential elections means absolutely nothing to DS. Boris Tadic got many votes from Kostunica’s electorate. Presidential elections were not any indicator of the DS position in general. In these elections people were voting for lesser evil and due to the fact that they were intimidated by negative campaign led by Boris Tadic, he won. If parliamentary elections were launched soon, I believe that new government would be formed by SRS, DSS and perhaps SPS. Tadic should not forget that he got many votes from those who believed his promises on preserving the country’s sovereignty. Tadic and DS know this and that is why they avoid referendum with the simple question “Would you still prefer integration in the EU after partitioning of the country”?
(bmrusila, 5 February 2008 10:44)