New Kosova Report

Ultraradical Nikolic secures victory in Serbian election

Monday, 21 January 2008

Tomislav Nikolic celebrating victory

Ultranationalist leader of the Serbian Radical Party, Tomislav Nikolic, secured most votes in the presidential election in Serbia yesterday. Standing against eight other candidates he secured 39,4 % of the votes, with the incumbent president Boris Tadic managing to get 35,4 % as the second ranked candidate.

Nikolic’s win didn’t come as any great surprise, but the big turnout was; preliminary statistics put the participation at 60.6 % of the total eligible voters. There are reports that voters turned out in huge numbers in central Serbia and in rural areas, places where the radicals have strongholds. Nikolic’s win isn’t the first one however. During last elections the radicals secured a win in the first round, forcing the elections to a second decisive round where Boris Tadic barely held Nikolic off and secured the presidential title. This time, it looks like the second round will be even tougher considering the surprisingly big gap between Tadic and Nikolic in the first round.

Tomislav Nikolic has openly criticized Tadic’s policy in Kosova claiming that Serbia should never let go of 'it’s Jerusalem,” has urged greater cooperation with Russia, India and China and has also promised to “defend Kosovo” whatever the price. Nikolic is also very skeptical of the EU claiming that Serbia has a “moral duty” to cut off ties to the EU due to the Kosovar issue.

Tomislav Nikolic heads the Serbian Radical Party, the biggest political party in Serbia. He has earlier worked together with Slobodan Milosevic during the 90’s. His party leader, Vojislav Seselj, is currently at the Hague tribunal standing charges for crimes against humanity. Nikolic himself is sure of victory: “Serbia has shown that it wants change. We have the basis for a victory in the second round. We were never closer to a final victory. No one can stop us."

A win in the second round for the radical leader would not only ensure him the seat of President of Serbia, it would also make him commander-in-chief for the Serbian Army. EU and the US have voiced great concern about the possible win of Nikolic, a move that most probably would lead Serbia away from the European integration path and back to an isolationist politics turned towards Moscow.

The second round has been scheduled for 3 February.

For New Kosova Report: Salih Shala