Serbian Election: Instability Continues

Chronicles Magazine ^ | January 6, 2003 | Srdja Trifkovic

[Tamodaleko]

Kostunica is the key player in the ongoing negotiations because he is the only lider with whom all others are willing to create a coalition. He now faces a dilemma: to try and create a broadly based government that would include all parliamentary parties, to give in to Western pressure and include the DS in a “reformist” coalition (which he had pledged not to do), or to try to form a minority government with the G-17 and Draskovic, a government that may include one DS minister (probably Tadic himself) but keep the Democrats out of power. That would also be an unstable formula but the new parliament should not be seen as a four-year solution anyway. A new election before the year’s end that would further narrow the field is preferable to a coalition paralyzed by internal dissent.

[Tamodaleko]

If the broadly based goverment that would include all parliamentary parties is not possible, why oh why is VK sweating to form a coalition that will furthermore hurt him, while the radicals are sitting back and giggling?

[Tamodaleko]

opinions?

[expatpat]

Don't have enough background information. What is the DS party? Where do they fit in the political spectrum in Serbia?

[Seselj]

The Democratic Party of Serbia is Kostunica's party. They are a right of center but realistic party. On the one hand they support joining EU/NATO, on the other hand they are strongly opposed to extraditing their citizens to the Hague.