Turn on a western TV outlet, open a western newspaper. Two elections: France and Greece. What about Serbia, you know, that "forgotten" nation in the Balkans that shed the blood of hundreds of thousands of its sons and daughters fighting against imperialism and fascism in two world wars? And what about the serious allegations of irregularities?
Turn on a western TV outlet, open a western newspaper. Two elections: France and Greece. What about Serbia, you know, that "forgotten" nation in the Balkans that shed the blood of hundreds of thousands of its sons and daughters fighting against imperialism and fascism in two world wars, the one the west thanked by carving off its southernmost province of Kosovo and recognising it as a "country"?
And what happened in the Serbian elections? The early forecasts give incumbent President Boris Tadic (DS-Demokratska Stranka) a marginal lead (26.8%) over Tomislav Nikolic (SNS-Srpska Napredna Stranka) 25.6%. However, let us see how.
Accusations of serious irregularities have been levelled at Tadic and his party in the elections in which 7,026,579 Serbian citizens had the right to vote for among 12 Presidential candidates and 250 Members of Parliament choosing among 18 electoral lists.
In Novi Sad, several people were detained after offering 2,500 dinars to vote for Tadic, according to b92. Also in Novi Sad, there are accusations that a political rally was held in a concert given by George Balasevic, despite the fact that this took place on Saturday night, when there was a political blackout, or supposed to be. It is claimed that Tadic attended this event and gained political capital from it.
Globally, there are accusations that 261,000 voting papers have gone missing and will be introduced in the ballot boxes. Inside Serbia there is a considerable weight of public opinion which accused the Tadic government of being controlled by foreigners, of usurping the position in government to pander to the caprices of the foreign paymasters and there is a very heavy climate of suspicion that Tadic will try to rig the election.
Watch this space.
Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey
Pravda.Ru