Liberals and nationalists neck and neck in Serbia

SHADOW OF KOSOVO:SERBIA'S PRO-WESTERN liberals and former far-right nationalists were neck and neck last night in the fight for victory in presidential and parliamentary elections.

President Boris Tadic secured 26.8 per cent of votes as he sought re-election, just ahead of Tomislav Nikolic, leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) on 25.6 percent, according to the CESID polling agency.

In a simultaneous parliamentary election, the SNS led with 24.7 per cent and the Democrats took 23.2 per cent.

The Socialists were third on 16.6 per cent, the B92 website reported.

If the results are confirmed, Mr Tadic and Mr Nikolic will contest a run-off on May 20th, while the SNS will try to forge a parliamentary majority with coalition partners.

Mr Tadic secured formal EU candidate member status for Serbia this year after catching the last of its major war crimes suspects, and he pledged to continue the push towards EU membership while casting doubt on the credentials of his main rival.

Mr Nikolic, a dour former cemetery director nicknamed “The Undertaker”, insists he has abandoned his former ultra-nationalist views and now supports Serbia’s bid to join the EU, but disagrees with Mr Tadic on economic policies that he says are only deepening Serbs’ poverty. “I expect that Serbia will continue on its reform path. Better life, better living standards for ordinary people is our strategic goal,” said Mr Tadic (54) after casting his ballot as he sought a third and final four-year term in office.

Mr Tadic claimed the results of his pro-EU policy were already being felt in Serbia’s capital and around the country.

“Recall the atmosphere of four years ago, or eight, or 12 years ago when it was a question of life and death...It shows how much a country can change,” he said.

Mr Nikolic (60) reiterated his support for Serbia’s bid for EU membership, but said he would never recognise Kosovo’s independence as a condition of accession. Mr Tadic says the same, but some Serbs have criticised him for opening talks on practical issues with the government in Pristina.

“Europe is our goal but only if Brussels wants us,” said Mr Nikolic, who once remarked that he would rather see Serbia become a province of Russia than a member of the EU.

“It’s not the first time. But this time it’s definite,” he said of his chances of victory.

“Serbia is anxiously awaiting changes, the changes that are necessary. It cannot go on like this any longer. I think that either tonight, or in two weeks, we can openly discuss how to move Serbia forward.” With the two main presidential candidates and parties now agreeing on the importance of EU membership, the campaign battle shifted to the struggling Serb economy, which Mr Nikolic and the SNS say has been badly managed by Mr Tadic and the Democrats.

The kingmakers could now be the Socialists led by Ivica Dacic, the current interior minister who may seek the premiership in return for his party’s support.

“So many options are open in forming the future cabinet that the winner may be the group most flexible about partnerships,” said Miroslav Sutic of polling agency Partner Consulting. “The Democrats seem to have more room to manoeuvre.” One hour before voting was due to end, an independent polling group put turnout at 53.6 per cent. Some polling stations stayed open past the scheduled closing time to allow people queuing up outside to cast their votes.

Election day appeared to pass off without major incident across Serbia and in Kosovo, where about 100,000 Serbs were eligible to vote.