Opposition Leader, Speaker Differ on Election Process

Boris Tadic (Beta/Milos Miskov)

The opposition Social Democratic Party's leader, Boris Tadic, said on July 14 that whatever agreement might be reached over the requirements of a free and fair election, the government would have the advantage, because the election was much too close.

Tadic said in an interview with the Serbian Broadcasting Corporation (RTS) that time was running out, and it's impossible to discuss every political issue in Serbia in a serious, democratic way, giving citizens a chance to perhaps reconsider their views.

A guest in the state broadcaster' morning show together with the Serbian speaker and the Socialist leader, Ivica Dacic, Tadic said that "the same positions have been solidified for years by the government, the ruling coalition, Aleksandar Vucic and the media under his absolute control, and there's just "very little time left" to reverse them. "It doesn't mean that we should not fight for a better election process now, because even a small victory means a lot at this point," Tadic said.

Dacic argued that new electoral terms could not create any advantage. "You will obtain better conditions, by all means, insofar as they are realistic, acceptable and sustainable. In the end, election conditions alone will create no advantage," the Serbian speaker said.