Serbian elections: Four leading parties vow to fight for Kosovo inside Serbia
The four leading Serbian parties or coalitions after the Sunday parliamenary and municipal elections vowed to keep Kosovo inside Serbia.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Monday, May 12, 2008
The coalition of Serbian president Boris Tadic -- "For European Serbia" - won over 38 percent of the votes, ahead of the Serb Radical Party of Tomislav Nikolic (29 percent), the Democratic Party of Serbia of Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica (11 percent) and the Socialist Party of Serbia of Ivica Dacic (8 percent).
The Liberal-Democrat Party of Cedomir Jovanovic - the only party willing to concede Kosovo's secession - arrived fifth and barely made it into the parliament with 5,2 percent, a weaker than expected result.
In their speeches following the announcement of results, the leaders of the four leading parties vowed to keep Serbia's territorial integrity.
"We will never recognize Kosovo's independence", Tadic said, adding Serbia would fight against Pristina's secession by using all available political and diplomatic means.
Early elections were called after a rift had been created on how to relate to the EU following its position on Kosovo and the fact that 19 out of 27 EU countries have recognized Pristina's secession.
The Radicals, Kostunica's DSS and the Socialists have all opposed entering contractual relations with the EU before Brussels clarifies whether it recognizes Serbia under its UN borders (including Kosovo) or not.
Tadic's coalition has on the other side said that the EU integration process and the fight for Serbia's
sovereignty over Kosovo can go hand in hand, as well that the issue of the borders can be resolved down the road.
It is yet unclear on who will form a government, as Tadic left the door open for a possible coalition with the Socialists.
The polls had predicted a more comfortable advantage for the Radicals, the DSS and the Socialists, although these three parties can still form a majority government.
