Radicals in
Serbia deal West poll blow
By Julius
Strauss and Alex Todorovic in Belgrade
(Filed: 30/12/2003)
Western diplomats were fighting last night to prevent a return to nationalist rule in Serbia, three years after the fall of Slobodan Milosevic ushered in a liberal regime.
The Serbian Radical Party, led by Vojislav Seselj, an indicted war criminal and Milosevic ally, won more than 27 per cent of the vote in parliamentary elections at the weekend, becoming the biggest party. It was hoped that four broadly pro-western parties would form a working majority in a new parliament.
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But Vojislav Kostunica, the moderate nationalist who led the overthrow of Milosevic, rounded on the west and his liberal former allies. He said the rise of the ultra-nationalists was the result of poor governance and the "repertoire of blackmail" employed against Serbia by western governments.
Like the ultra-nationalists, with whom he may now form an alliance, Mr Kostunica has deplored the workings of the United Nations War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague, accusing it of being anti-Serb and politically motivated.
The Radicals say that, if they gain power, they will halt co-operation with The Hague and embark on a policy of national expansion "through peaceful means".
Yesterday Mr Kostunica, who will be the kingmaker in the new parliament, came under intense pressure from both sides to declare the allegiance of his party, the Democratic Party of Serbia. Tomislav Nikolic, the deputy head of the Radicals, invited him to form a nationalist coalition.
He said: "There are obviously many common points in our two programmes which could make us form a government together."
Sources said yesterday Mr Kostunica also spoke to the American ambassador, William Montgomery. They said the envoy threatened diplomatic sanctions if Mr Kostunica joined the ultra-nationalists.
Javier Solana, the European Union's foreign policy chief, said: "I appeal to all democratic forces to work together to ensure that a new government based on a clear and strong European reform agenda can be formed rapidly".
Since Milosevic was overthrown, the Serbian economy has stagnated, with the prices of staples and fuel rising dramatically. His successors have lost public support through prolonged bickering and corruption has continued.
Serbs are also furious at being told to hand over wartime leaders to tribunal in The Hague. Many refuse to acknowledge the crimes committed by Serbs during the 1990s and others say the trials are humiliating. Bratislav Grubacic, the publisher of the Belgrade newsletter VIP, said: "The general view in Serbia was that after the toppling of Milosevic the country's international isolation would be over.
"But the policy of The Hague and other western institutions have created fertile ground for a new nationalism."
Most agree that if the Radicals can form a government it would be a blow to the West's efforts to integrate Serbia into Europe.
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29 December 2003: Deadlock in Serbia as voters turn again to rabble-rousers |
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