Ultra-nationalist win clouds Serbia's future
Ultra-nationalists claimed victory in Serbian elections after a splintered vote failed to deliver on European hopes of a clear mandate for a pro-Western reformist government in Belgrade.
With almost all of the votes counted, results showed the hardline Serbian Radical Party, whose leader Vojislav Seselj is on trial for war crimes, had won 28.7 percent of Sunday's vote.
The pro-European Democratic Party of President Boris Tadic was second with 22.9 percent, followed by moderate nationalist Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) with 16.7 percent, according to the results from the central elections commission.
With no party obtaining an outright majority, Kostunica looked set to play the role of kingmaker in any future coalition government.
"We have won as we had expected," said the Radicals' candidate for prime minister, Tomislav Nikolic, adding, however, that he was "not convinced" his party would be able to form a government.
The nationalists campaigned on an anti-Western, eurosceptic platform that vowed to reject any "imposed solution" on the future of the majority ethnic Albanian province of Kosovo.
Kosovo has been under UN control since the end of the 1998-1999 war between Serb forces and ethnic Albanian guerrillas, and UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari is expected to propose a form of independence for the province later this week.
European Union foreign ministers meeting Monday in Brussels to discuss the election outcome, shrugged off the ultra-nationalist victory, saying they were hopeful a reformist, pro-Western coalition would come to power.
"The Radicals came out on top but two thirds of the parliament will go to democratic forces and I believe it is going to be a basis for a government that will lead Serbia along the path to Europe," said German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose country holds the EU presidency.
Serbian President Tadic, whose party campaigned hard on the promise of EU membership, also argued the election was a victory for the reformist camp.
"All parties supporting a pro-European stance won a majority and this is an important signal that Serbia will send to Europe and the world," Tadic said.
Although Kostunica has declined to commit his party's support to either of the two main parties, most analysts believe he will join forces with Tadic's Democrats and other smaller parties.
But the negotiations are expected to be difficult, with Kostunica likely insisting that he retain the premiership.
The EU froze preliminary membership talks with Belgrade in May, chiefly for its failure to hand former Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic over to the UN war crimes court, where he is wanted for genocide.
The ultra-nationalists have made it clear they would not deliver Mladic for trial before the UN court in The Hague.
With the UN decision on Kosovo just days away, the volatile issue of the province's future will cast a heavy shadow over any coalition talks.
Ethnic Albanians in Kosovo are seeking independence, a demand staunchly opposed by Serbia which is willing to consider -- at best -- only a form of broad autonomy.
Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku appealed to the international community to quickly settle the province's status amid fears in some quarters the process could be delayed until a Serbian government is formed.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said that, despite the strong showing by the Radical Party, he believed the election marked a step towards greater integration with Europe.
"The majority from the elections is a majority which is for democratic forces," Solana said.
In Washington, the United States sought to play down the strong showing of ultra-nationalists, saying most voters backed pro-West parties that favored democratic reforms.
US ambassador to Belgrade Michael Polt said separately the elections showed a majority of Serbians "have spoken out in favor of a secure, prosperous future inside the Euro-Atlantic community".
"It is now up to their chosen leaders to form a government that delivers such a forward-looking Serbia," he said.
Sunday's election came nearly a year after the death of former autocratic president Slobodan Milosevic and the loss of Serbia's traditional partner Montenegro following an historic independence referendum.
The electoral commission is due to present final results by Thursday.
AFP
