Leading Western Embassies Against Early Elections in Serbia, Claims NIN Weekly

Extraordinary Parliamentary Elections in Serbia, Dec. 17 2023 (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)

At least four leading Western embassies in Serbia agree that, under the current circumstances, snap elections would not be a good solution to the ongoing crisis in the country, the NIN weekly reported on Aug. 28.

Citing a foreign diplomat who requested his name and country of origin remain unmentioned, NIN wrote that all current analyses indicate that the victory of either side in such a vote would be rejected by the other. “This would lead to even greater conflict and chaos, which we do not wish to see in Serbia,” the diplomat stated.

Said opinion illustrates the fallacy of viewing the stance of foreign embassies as unequivocal support for the current regime. What the West is concerned with most is the potential fallout of an early election and whether such a situation could be managed without a serious escalation in conflicts.

While the foreign embassies in question have no one solution to offer Serbia’s leadership or the protesting students, the weekly reported, some diplomats believe that the best course would be to form a special body comprising the representatives of all actors in the current crisis, which would then arrange elections. “That, however, would not be an interim government,” NIN’s source made sure to clarify.