Political Scene After McAllister’s Visit: Recommendation to Opposition to Drop Plans for Boycott

David McAllister (Photo: Beta / /MILAN OBRADOVIC)

Serbia’s leading opposition parties are getting increasingly close to a decision on boycotting the regular general election expected next year, but are facing growing pressure from Brussels and Washington to call on their voters to turn out after all. In both informal contacts and official statements, European and U.S. officials are showing practically no understanding for the idea of an election boycott, believing that such a move would only radicalize the already bad relations within Serbian society. The West basically wants political stability in the Balkans, while a boycott may cause the opposite effect.