Boris Tadić just won the presidential election, over Radikalna Stranka (nationalist) party leader Tomislav Nikolić. Tadić is known for a pro-EU stance. Can he negotiate his country toward a compromise on the issue of Kosovar independence? It promises to be an interesting few weeks in this corner of the world, hopefully, everything will stay peaceful. A date for independence has been set, so it could be any time in the coming days.
ETA: Then again, PM Kostunica doesn't back Tadić's pro-European stance, and since they are in coalition together, there apparently could be a new election the minute Kosovo declares. Support for Nikolić is at 47% according to votes cast, so it's not like Tadić enjoys an overwhelming majority of support.
2 comments:
Tadić and Nikolić are not as different in their POV as is portrayed, especially when it comes to Kosovo. I will go out on limb to suggest that possibly, Nikolić would have been (will be?) able to negotiate better when the initial after-independence-decaration limited outbursts of violence subsides. Then again, I could be wrong.
Hmm. I agree, their stated positions on Kosovo are similar. I don't think it is possible to be that high up in the political structure and not have a "kosovo je naš" attitude, too likely you'd end up like Đinđić. The ultra-nationalists in Radikalna stranka have shown an overwhelming eagerness to run Serbia into the ground out of spite and fear of any alternative. I don't think they'll prove to be good negotiators...easier to point the gun at their own feet and fire then talk it out to the benefit of the people.
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