Hi everyone,
I am writing a new blog post for Jyllands-Posten (a large Danish daily newspaper) about Serbia’s new President Nikolic and I wanted to try an experiment.
I want to give Danish readers an opportunity to hear directly from the people of Serbia (and those foreigners who live and work here).
Rather than rely on the opinions of my coffee circle, taxi drivers, students and husband, I want to invite all of you to contribute your comments and thoughts on the new President and the current political situation.
Feel free to comment right here, or email mail securely (see http://www.katjalarsen.com/contact )
Here are a few starter questions, but feel free to expound on any aspect of the situation as long as it is relevant to Serbia’s national political situation.
- Why did/didn’t you vote for President Nikolic?
- Is there any substantial difference between Tadic and Nikolic
- What do you think of the prospect of Tadic as prime minister with Nikolic president
- Who paid for the massive election campaigns of the main parties?
- What is the most important political issue for you? The state of the economy, political corruption, joining the EU or the welfare of Serbs in Kosovo
- Is it true the main parties are corrupt (embezzling money, controlled by foreign interests and oligarchs, collaborating with each other under the covers)
- What will happen if Serbia has a crisis like its near neighbour Greece?
- What will happen with Kosovo?
- Is there any fresh blood in the political system? Who are the rising stars? Who should we be watching?
- What does the future hold for Serbia?
Friends, please contribute more and speak up, in private by mail or right here.
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
1) I haven’t voted for anybody. I can say that I wanted Tadic to loose because he and his party was very bad, but I didn’t wanted Nikolic to win.
I will never gave my vote to Nikolic, unless he surprises us all as good president, which I doubt.
2) No, same thing, different suit. Tadic wears his suits much better, but that doesn’t make him a better president.
3) Plausible. It won’t be good anyway.
4) Some of the money goes from budget, other is unknown.
5) Economy and corruption. But if government failed to do any progress on those fields there is always possibility to revitalize the Kosovo problems to fool the people in Serbia. I hope this will never happen and that politicians in Serbia are little bit more responsible now then 15 year ago.
6) Yes, Serbia is basically still social country with government running and interfering in everything. That is why corruption is so high and parties has a leading role in everything.
7) We will survive. We have survived wars, sanctions and lived with monthly salaries of 5 DEM during hyper inflation. But it is so embarrassing that so called democratic government of Mr. Tadic got us into this problem with unwillingness to change bad and corrupted system influenced by parties. They just make the things worse with more and more people got their jobs i public sector.
8) Nothing. It will never become recognized by Serbia. But Kosovo has much bigger problems than Serbia.
9) No. No one. You should watch birds.
10) Big words and promises, nothing good for the people, business and entrepreneurship.
1. I didn’t vote since I was out of the country. If I were here, I would’ve made my ballot invalid as my little personal protest against the current political offer.
2. At one hand, not really. They both would’ve said anything just to get elected.
On the other hand, I can not forget history of Nikolic. For me, there is no valid excuse to vote for him, ever.
3. This setup is better for democracy. Not sure if this will happen, though.
Nikolic is no stranger to swapping sides and I feel he would love more than anything to take revenge on Tadic. If not for many election losses than for his absurd “hunger strike” last year. People who voted for Nikolic would surely loved to see that, too.
I feel that recent Kosovo incidents are prelude for nationalist government.
4. I guess private companies who see it as an investment.
5. I am saddened by terrible demographic trends and amount of young educated people who are leaving the country. Myself included, even though I am not that young anymore (37).
This is THE main problem for Serbia.
6. Yes.
7. Nothing. We are used to this shit. We will engage more on Facebook and reality shows, Turkish soap operas. God willing, Novak Djoković will have long injury-free career.
8. Eventually it will be recognized by Serbia, after intense pressure by the Russians. This will be presented on TV as another success of Serbian diplomacy.
9. There isn’t. We vote for same people for 20 years. There is no concept of taking blame for anything. No responsibilities. Voters have memory span of an amoeba.
Young people do not engage in politics, except for the prospect of easier employment or other benefits. Students protest only about tuition fees or to lower the number of credits needed for passing.
Only people willing to stand against the police now are the nationalist thugs and football hooligans. People who let protests in the 90s are now government officials, in their shiny BMWs. Times of change here are long gone. This is why so many abstained from voting.
The only new faces are of the worst kind: family-values oriented populists / clero-fascists.
10. In 200 years Albania will share border with Hungary.
From a Serb who lives and works in Serbia:
1) I didn’t vote for either of the candidates in the run-off round. I didn’t vote for Nikolić because he is a populist politician. During the 1990s, populism included far right nationalism, expulsion of non-Serbs from Serbia, support of war in other parts of ex-Yu, etc. Now, populism includes being pro-EU and anti-corruption. So, he changed his tune but the underlying motivation is the same. I didn’t vote for Tadić because he is accumulating too much power personally. I could overlook disagreements with his policies, but he didn’t have a right to a 3rd presidential term anyway…
2) There is a huge difference between Nikolić and Tadić. Tadić’s main flaws are disregard of the constitution, Nikolić’s main flaws are war-mongering and extreme nationalism. Tadić is surrounded by at least somewhat capable people (though most people in politics in Serbia are mediocre at best) and is generally an intelligent chap. Nikolić is surrounded by people who are completely clueless.
3) That’s what’s most likely to happen right now. Tadić is not the right person to lead the government – he has moral obligation to step down after losing presidential elections. There are much more capable people in Democratic Party than him. The main problem with this, as we call it, “cohabitation” is that Tadić already set a precedent of pushing the boundaries of constitutional limits of presidential position. Of course, if the PM is not from the same party as the President, opportunities to continue misusing presidential office are much smaller, but still a concern.
4) Election campaigns were not massive, not compared to what they were 4 years ago. But, they were mostly payed by tax money (each party gets funds for the campaign), as well as the membership of those parties (which buys you privileges in future government) as well as beneficiaries coming from the business world. The latter generally support all parties, which is not a problem in itself. The problem is that we don’t know who they are exactly.
5) The most pressing priorities are institutionalization of democracy in Serbia and austerity measures. Neither one is priority of any political party. We have a huge, corrupt, government, and we need small, effective one.
6) Is it true the main parties are corrupt (embezzling money, controlled by foreign interests and oligarchs, collaborating with each other under the covers)
All parties are corrupt. But that’s how the system works. Just like lobbying is perfectly legal in the US, in Serbia it’s perfectly legal for parties in power to appoint their people to executive boards of various public companies and give them ridiculously high salaries.
Of course, there is corruption coming from outside too, sometimes in plain sight. But again, that’s how the system is set up. Complicated procedures to get e.g. land to build something on it lead to corruption.
7) What will happen if Serbia has a crisis like its near neighbour Greece?
It already does. We still have a lot of room for borrowing, but once we run out of opportunity to borrow money, we’ll just collapse. It happened before and the first things to go were pensions, public employee salaries, etc. I am afraid this time around taxes will go up and lead most of economy into gray and black areas.
8) What will happen with Kosovo?
Everything that can happen to Kosovo already did. It declared independence and in due time it will start joining international institutions. That will be the end of it.
9) Is there any fresh blood in the political system? Who are the rising stars? Who should we be watching?
Nope, no fresh blood. Nobody in their right mind capable of anything will deal with politics in Serbia.
10) What does the future hold for Serbia?
Who knows?
1) I didn’t vote in the second round ’cause I didn’t want to choose between “two evils”
2) No, as both of them don’t decide anything.
3) Same sh.t
4) The big bosses
5) The first three
6) That’s exactly what is happening.
7) Nothing that we haven’t been through before
8) Nothing for a long time.
9) Same old, same old.
10) Nothing bad, nothing good.
1) I didn’t vote, because none of the offered meets my demands.
) ; other than than, nope.
2) Nope.
3) By some logic , it should be better, because they don’t tolerate each other. But knowing Serbian political scene for a long time, it has nothing with the logic, only money and power!
4) Some ‘businessmen’ that will come after for what they paid…
5) Unfortunately, the most important issue, economy, is is closely bounded with the corruption.
6) Yep, definitely !
7) It’s already here, but non of the political ‘messiahs’ cares.
8) Nothing, it won’t be recognized by Serbia, so it will be idle for some time.
9) Well, Jesus said that he will be coming back , I hope that he will appear here in Serbia first
10) Lots of brainwashing and fake smiles.
1. I didn’t vote for any of the contenders
2. Only differences are that Tadic has more aesthetisized appearance and is pleasable to watch but essentially they are both incapable to lead and make needed reforms.
3. Not good because voters punished Tadic on the elections for being President and PM at the same time for last four years.
4. Tax payers, like me unfortunately
5. Political corruption generates bad economy which leads to instability and prolonging EU joining process what is bad for Serbs in Kosovo.
6. Sad, but true.
7. Nothing much. Politicians will put the blame on somebody else and try to exploit crisis even more to enlarge they wealth. And the people here are used to live under pressure an suffer so I don’t expect revolution.
8. Kosovo is independent and will gain full independence sooner or later.
9. Maybe there is new blood, but it’s thin. Maybe Dragan Djilas is someone capable of leading the country in good direction, but question is, is he the “new blood”.
10. Changes will come slowly but I think the system must change or it will collapse pretty soon. In long run I think Serbia will be on the good route to became normal society.
1. I voted against Tadić this time. Reasons are simple: one can not be president for more than 10 years according to our constitution. Tadić wanted to use a legal loophole (he treated the union of Serbia and Montenegro as a ‘different’ country, yet he was not the president of that union, but president of Serbia at the time). Tadić was also unable to subdue the rampant corruption which stems from his own party. I do not blame him for the deeds of his associates ( he is probably the least corrupt of the lot), but he should have wiped his party clean of pests. The people know what high ranking Democratic Party representatives are doing. That is why he got punished in these elections.
2. Tadić is only better looking and more eloquent. In every other respect they are completely the same: incompetent idiots who need to retire.
3. I expect riots towards the end of the year in Serbia if Tadić and Democratic Party remain in power.
4. Corporate executives and oligarchs.
5. Corruption stemming from political parties. Politicians in Serbia are like viruses which are making the country sick.
6. Yes and the people know that.
7. NATO will exploit that weakness and pressure Serbia even more to give up Kosovo.
8. If we keep resisting outside pressures it will be split between Serbia and Albania (hopefully in a peaceful, diplomatic manner). If we keep giving in even more, the north of Kosovo will also become controlled by Pristina
9. Pirate Party of Serbia, Dveri movement and ‘We are the 99%’ movement.
10. The future doesn’t ‘hold’ anything. It is the people who have the power to shape their own destiny, as well as their country. I hope that the people will rebel against rampant political corruption and oligarchs and finally manage to take back their rights!
1. Didn’t voted Nikolic, don’t like him
2. No
3. Same old story – lust for glory? or greed?
4. Tax payers, and probably some tycoons
5. All
6. Absolute power corrupts absolutely!
7. Nothing
8. Independence but not formally recognized by Serbia
9. No
10. Nothing
The Serbia cannot be the part of euroatlantic block, because everything we got from EU and NATO states in the last two decades is NATO bombing and our part of the teritorry is stolen, our holy land Kosovo is stolen by the forces of NATO and EU. The funniest thing is that we are promoted as agresors in the last war where we were fighting against nations that were fascist and Hitlers allies during World War II. They supported Hitler because of the same reasons that they support NATO now. Muslims, Croats and Albanians have done a biggest genocide in the history of the Balkans where thay brutally slaugthered over 1 millions Serbs in goal to have their independent states. The most brutal example is Jasenovac. Check out jasenovac.eu Every nation that created independent state under Hitler, today have created their independent states under NATO in the same way of using brutal force, false propaganda and lies. Stoping EU is a must for Serbs. EU in Serbia is mission impossible. EU must do everything to stop neo-nacism in the heart of Europe that we are seeing in today modern “states” as Croatia or Kosovo are. We have open promotion of fascist ideology of Ustashe movement trough big concerts etc…in Croatia and EU is silent about it. Why? I have wrote you everything.
1. I didn’t, and i won’t vote for anyone because government and every man that works like politician must be in serve of people,but they are stealing us, modern slavery.
Bless
2. There is one difference, Tadic is more educated, but after all it is the same.. They are here because of money, not because of us..:)
3. I really don’t think about them, they are institutions that i don’t believe in..
4. We will see that when they sell something for low prices, or when they do something illegal for someone to make them prosper.
5. Political corruption, but people must make change by protesting against politicians, we expect government to work that problem out, but we do not realize that our government is corrupted.. So they will never work that out.
6. Yes they are..
7. With every day i am more and more sure that we will have that crisis.. I don’t know..
8. I think it will be fully independent, or in “best” case scenario we will split it with Albania… But there is no chance of that.. American democracy will work something about that.. Maybe threat with bombing again.. Wouldn’t surprise me.. Force.. War..
9. Hmm, there is no one.. I like one man.. Cedomir, but i would never give him vote because he would sold us… And I don’t like his political views, just like one thing.. I like that he talks so much about freedom of people to do what they want to do..:) But he is one bad man, dealing with drug bands, and other bands.. we do not need that really.
10. Just promises, nothing good..
I think folks need to gather together, people should come together as one independent force.. WE NEED TO IGNORE EVERY INSTITUTION, WE NEED TO IGNORE THIS LAWS,WE REALLY NEED TO BE FREE.. (: And only we can fight for that freedom… Freedom of speaking, freedom of doing anything that we want as long as we do not hurt others…
Thank you for this..:) Thank you for giving us opportunity to say what we want to say..
1.I had 2 choices: vote for bigger evil or not to vote.I choose second one.
2.Well Tadic is less idiot than Nikolic.That’s a fact.
3.Nothing.I don’t care It can’t be better here,only worse,so it means nothing to me if he i s a prime minister or not.
4.For Tadic and Nikolic, West of course (America and EU)
5.Everything here about politic is a big problem,there’s no bigger or smaller.
6.Who’s not? Every single party,not only in Serbia,on whole “westside” (europe,north america) is corupted by people who’s only interested in power.
7.Belgrade will be burned by the ground.That’s why I hate this country and people,when we have problem instead we find solution in peace,peaceful protesting,we destroy whole town,hospitals,markets,clubs…We destroy that little thing we have left.
8.It’s gonna be like it is now for some time,then they gonna give it up from it,It will returned to Serbia.Like nothing happen.
9.Nope.My personal opinion we need another guy like it was Josip Broz Tito.When he was president,people had great lifes,good payed jobs,they were happy….Or we need a Stalin to get “little” order here,casue it’s not politicans main problem,it’s people.They need first to understand some thing.
10.Nothing better if you ask me.Like I sad.There can only be worse,not better.End of story
Why did/didn’t you vote for President Nikolic?
I haven’t voted. I was saying to everyone, if I go out to vote, it will be against Tadic, hence for Nikolic, but deep inside, I didn’t believed that Nikolic can ever win. Why? You are a woman, majority of voters are women, just judge your own reaction to Tadic vs. your reaction to Nikolic. Yep, it came as a shock for me, too.
Is there any substantial difference between Tadic and Nikolic
Sadly, not really. If you judge from abroad, one looks like a model and other one as a polished grave digger, but looking from a Serbian citizen point of view, Tadic’s party was robbing us of what little remained of our future, and I was strongly against them – especially cos I am their former voter! I have got so sick of the Democratic Party that I’ve even started to think, let’s give this other idiot a chance, he cannot be much worse than this one. Yet, giving him my vote would have been too much.
What do you think of the prospect of Tadic as prime minister with Nikolic president
Hopefully, a bit of control over him. Really, I am thinking of packing my bags once again, this time for good.
Who paid for the massive election campaigns of the main parties?
Poor people of Serbia.
What is the most important political issue for you? The state of the economy, political corruption, joining the EU or the welfare of Serbs in Kosovo
Corruption first, economy second, welfare of Serbs in Kosovo… is, well, not even close to my third. But the state of the environment is.
Is it true the main parties are corrupt (embezzling money, controlled by foreign interests and oligarchs, collaborating with each other under the covers)
Yes definitively, yes pretty much so, yes absolutely.
What will happen if Serbia has a crisis like its near neighbour Greece?
Serbia sinks under the ice and does not resurface in the next 100 years (of solitude).
What will happen with Kosovo?
Its European problem now, not mine. Kosovo is finally out of my country borders, so EU wanted it, EU should solve it. I do not give a f%^#.
Is there any fresh blood in the political system? Who are the rising stars? Who should we be watching?
A hangman should be watching. I would vote for a death penalty return, for highest state representatives only. They want privileges? Okay, they should come with responsibility. And punishment.
What does the future hold for Serbia?
For my generation, nothing. Many years ago, I lived on another hemisphere, the sunny one. When Milosevic was ousted, I have returned, wanting to take part in changing my country. Yet, I did not wanted to join any party, my late father would have no rest in his grave if I did. Being a part of an NGO sector in Serbia, I have no influence whatsoever. I was stupid enough to come back and I have paid for it. Now is the time to pack my bags, one last time.
1. I didn’t vote for neither of them, cause I started to hate the idea that role of President is more important then the role of Prime minister. Also, Nikolic is badly educated and looks kind a scary, he is not the person I would like to represents us in the world.
2. Class and education. Tadic is what president should look like and behave like, but he had it enough. I just hope someone will work out on Nikolic… He need makeover
3. I think its a natural order. I prefer Tadic and his party to form the government and actually have some power, then Nikolic. Nikolic will have almost same duties as Miss Serbia, luckily…
4. A lot came from budget, so its tax payers aka The People. I’m not sure how it works here; I know in USA they have fundraisers and such things, but I don’t think someone would give money here so openly… Probably something “under the table”
5. Some of them are quite connected… But selfishly I’ll say economy.
6. It has to be, cause nothing here is done. They don’t have any interest in Serbia doing well, so they don’t care. But I think money is the real interest, not politics… Everything is about money…
7. After what we’ve been during ’90s… nothing big…
8. Im afraid its going to turn into some long unsolved issue non will profit from. I think Serbia has other problems it can actually solve, so maybe it should try solving them for change.
9. No. They wouldn’t let anyone take their spotlight…
10. Same old – same old… It’s bad, could get worse, don’t see how it could go better. I gave up of hoping… I had high hopes 2000., had even higher in 2005., 2008. and now… I just gave up!
sorry for bad grammar and spelling!
1. I haven’t voted for anyone, since any of the options just wasn’t solution for the people and country of Serbia.
2. Substantial – no. The differences between the two are purely cosmetic for the people of Serbia – they only differ with who they will form the coalition, that is the only difference. They are both incapable, and they both are looking only to keep their chairs.
3. It will grant Tadic and his party DS (Democratic Party, on Serbian “Demokratska Stranka” – hence the abbreviation “DS”) to continue their long reign in the goverment, ergo, keeping thei high positions, salaries and influence in political sphere in Serbia.
Any cooperation between the politicians has only one reason why it exists;
to prolong their power.
4. The money that the parties are taking to fund their propaganda before elections, is taken out of state’s till. So, naturally, one can presume that that money actually belongs to people. The problem is, that the people for the first time in the history have the Gray Economy (for everything that you buy you give the State 18%), but we haven’t agreed to that so that we can fund their elections, which are 2-3 commercials and that costs hundreds of millions of euros. ?
P.S. In order for one to understand how easy that money is manipulated, let me just remind you that we had a problem with one particular presidential candidate. He took the money to fund his propaganda before elections, and bought ARMS that he gave to extremists (muslim) in Serbia, as he was planning to start killing across the country. So, that is how easy things get out of hands, because of really weak supervision over these events.
5. For me, at least, is political corruption. If there were none, we would easily tend to Serbs in Kosovo, the state’s economy would improve very fast.
We, in Serbia, have an old saying; “Sta jedan pokvari, deset ne popravi.”
“What one brakes, ten cannot fix.”
So, we can do whatever, we can stand on our eyelashes, but it becomes worthless, because few make it worthless.
6. That is a well known fact in Serbia.
7. Probably same as before. People would go frantic and tear up the government. The youth would go abroad in search for a better life, so, a lot of youth and intellectuals would leave the country.
8. Depends; that is something that is very different than anything else seen so far; the Kosovo is cradle of Serbs, and I don’t think that that will be given out easily, in a democratic way. Maybe that will mean that the Serbia will turn to the East, to BRICS, for resolving this matter. It depends of the will of the poeple, and policy towards Kosovo.
9. No one. Absolutely no one.
10. Nothing. All the same.
1.
In the first election round I nullified my vote so I haven’t voted for anyone and in the second turn I didn’t even know that the elections took place until a friend reminded me, but it was already too late for me to go and cast a vote in the ballot so I didn’t vote in the second turn, either.
2.
I don’t know. Maybe in their ancestry, perhaps Nikolic is “more slavic” than Tadic but I cannot tell for sure. Other than that, I can’t see any prominent distinction.
3.
Nothing good but, somehow, I believe that much of their future political engagement won’t have much to do with their own free will and beliefs.
4.
Tax payers i.e the citizens. And maybe some seen-but-indiscernible leverages of Power.
5.
I think that the most important political issue for us should be and must be “the average level of personal happiness” a person can attain during his lifetime in his own country. This is much due to the cultural climate (which is narrowly connected to the economic status, sadly, since where there is high level of poverty or “strong feeling of being impoverished” which can be easily imprinted in people’s hearts even though the reality may not be so dismal looking, there is no democracy and the philosophical categories such as: the good, the truthful, and the beautiful, simply desintegrate. Humanity desintigrates. And the people become androids programmed to do whatever they are programmed to do by the Power behind the discourse.
6.
I cannot say whether this is true or not. According to doxa, they are corrupt. That’s why I’m not sure and won’t be until it is verified as an episteme.
7.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. We are like an experiment out of the Nietzsche’s book: We are weaklings since we are fanatical about our own lives, and in order to preserve them (even though this can hardly be called ‘normal living’) we will do anything that’s being asked so that we may continue our meaningless existence on this Planet (constantly searching for the Meaning where there’s no meaning in the first place)
8.
Nothing. It will become black hole of the Europe i.e they will become full fledged European state and the borders between Serbia and Kosovo will be nullified anyway. Just as it was back when it was a part of Yugoslavia. Much ado about nothing. Much bloodshed coming from both sides about nothing as it always has been when the will to power overcomes the power of love.
9.
No, there is not. There are no stars. Nobody.
10.
I tend to believe that nothing good awaits us in the future to come, for several reasons:
a)The Balkans evidently lies on the crossing lines of Earth’s negative energy pools. There can be no other explanation for this much hatred, bloodshed, divisions, etc -amongst ourselves.
b)The Balkans are primarily populated by two tribes of the Great Slavic Nation: Serbs and Croats. All those little nations created in the meantime came out of those 2 tribal groups. Since we are all connected by blood, one would assume that there should be some tribal ethics involved in our co-habitation. But the evil of foreign forced-onto-us religions and the fact that we’re the wedge between two very much different cultures (the west one, comprising the Goths who continued with the discourse of Roma Aeterna and eastern despotism-first with the Greeks and later with that of the mongrils) made the Slavs in the Balkans (and not just in the Balkans but also in the Central Europe) particularly vunerable and easy-to-delude.
Historically speaking, we haven’t had the chance to develop or discover political system that would suit our own needs and would be in accordance of our own slavic Being. Maybe it’s because we’re inherently freedom-fond people and the political system in itself is a frankenstein who inevitably goes against its creators making them the prisoners of their own agreement (Social du contracte). That’s the problem.
1. Why did/didn’t you vote for President Nikolic?
I didn’t vote because I’m studying abroad and couldn’t be bothered to go to the embassy. But even if I went voting, I’d make my ballot invalid, since I don’t like the concept which many people in Serbia tend to use: chose a lesser evil. In this case I don’t even know who was the lesser evil…
2. Is there any substantial difference between Tadic and Nikolic?
Nikolic tends to describe himself as a man of people, which actually works because he’s an uneducated idiot, who can’t even speak properly (not trying to say everyone is Serbia are like that, but there are many people who appreciate someone who speaks like they do etc. because huge number of people don’t have higher education). Tadic indeed has much more knowledge about politics and demagogy, he looks far better than Nikolic and has built up some kind of image in the international politics, but I think people are sick of him and his talks about EU and stuff. Substantially they’re the same, since their goals don’t really differ: take the money from the people and enjoy your position while you can. It is sad to say that they don’t even succeed to maintain status quo – everything is going downhills.
3. What do you think of the prospect of Tadic as prime minister with Nikolic president?
Actually it doesn’t matter who’s the president and who has which role as long as we keep seeing same faces all the time. They all have similar, if not the same political programs (better not to start about their efficiency and feasibility), they just keep changing parties… dead race
4. Who paid for the massive election campaigns of the main parties?
The people of Serbia
5. What is the most important political issue for you? The state of the economy, political corruption, joining the EU or the welfare of Serbs in Kosovo?
Economy and corruption. But in the country where there are so many economists you can’t have a functional system if every one of them is corrupt… Serbs in Kosovo are not a problem of Serbia, since we can’t solve it.
6. Is it true the main parties are corrupt (embezzling money, controlled by foreign interests and oligarchs, collaborating with each other under the covers)?
The question is inappropriate since people can’t actually know the 100% truth. And I don’t know how you’re gonna interpret our answers refering to the corruption.. But my personal opinion is that they are corrupt indeed.
6. What will happen if Serbia has a crisis like its near neighbour Greece?
Nothing is gonna happen, we will survive. It’s not the first nor the last time unfortunately. Just look at our country’s state in the past 20 years and you’ll see that we can survive everything. It’s not very pleasant but oh well.
The world is gonna end
7. What will happen with Kosovo?
It’ll be independent as it already is. I just hope that the Serbs will be able to migrate to Serbia or something. I don’t know, but Serbia has lost Kosovo long time ago. In my opinion people there are much more important than the territory but unfortunately no one speaks about the people
8. Is there any fresh blood in the political system? Who are the rising stars? Who should we be watching?
Pirate Party of Serbia, Dveri movement and ‘We are the 99%’ movement. But as soon as they pick their official leaders I wonder what’s gonna happen… Maybe they could make some progress since they have support from many young people who are pretty much apolitical actually since they have lost faith in old political parties.
10. What does the future hold for Serbia?
Fight for survival as always
I voted for Nikolic just so Tadic would lose,but not much will change anyways. Hopefully this one will steal less money from the people. With Tadic not being the president they can send some of the corrupt people from his party to prison, but they are all corrupt and work with each other so that’s probably just a dream. We (people) are the ones that payed for their election campaigns. Personally I think if we deal with corruption everything will change in country. First it’ll probably mean most of our politicians and the guys that own biggers firms here would go to prison. That will never happen,unless all people see how most of them are corrupt. But many still believe the media which is controlled of course by the Tadic and company. Current mayor of Belgrade, Dragan Djilas, is I think the most corrupt guy here really,but many don’t see that. As for Kosovo, we can’t do much as EU “peace keepers” are shooting at our people, and we know what would happen if we fought back. Also, many in Belgrade don’t know, or even don’t care about what’s happening there, coz our media don’t say one truth about what’s going on. Our future is in the hands of guys who don’t give a damn about human life, but profit. EU and USA will do whatever it takes to take all they can from us,Kosovo is just one part of it.
1. Why did/didn’t you vote for President Nikolic?
If you have choice, you vote for your choice. If you do not have choice, you do not vote. I did not have choice. Is this saying I did not vote? NO! I did vote
For choice!
2. Is there any substantial difference between Tadic and Nikolic
Yes. Personally. Yes. Politically. Almost NO. Practically.
3. What do you think of the prospect of Tadic as prime minister with Nikolic president
Why Tadic shall be any prospect? Wasn’t that what he did so far enough already? He shall not appear on political scene anymore. If he is person of any integrity he would not continue political carrier.
For that matter neither Nikolic looks like prospect, but deserves at least some benefit of doubt for a while. At least even-though that he has been elected president, bear in mind that less than 23% of right-to-vote population has given him go-ahead. Its not even a quarter of mature population that supports him. Shall I say that in other words more than 3 persons of 4 persons either ignored this president (around 55% or more than one of two) or actively voted against (about 22%).
4. Who paid for the massive election campaigns of the main parties?
We people did. On a short, and long run. And nobody asked us will we participate into that payment. How we are paying that? Taxes… out-of-tax tax… exchange rate… name it!
5. What is the most important political issue for you? The state of the economy, political corruption, joining the EU or the welfare of Serbs in Kosovo
Bad life!
Which has been caused by questions what is worse: Kosovo? Economy? Politics? Or joining EU? Wrong questions. Right question will be: how do you see improving of your life? There has been ooo much attention to problems, and too little attention to solutions. It shall be otherwise.
6. Is it true the main parties are corrupt (embezzling money, controlled by foreign interests and oligarchs, collaborating with each other under the covers)
By all means and more. Beyond understanding of average intelligence and average sense of ethics. On many levels, on every level.
7. What will happen if Serbia has a crisis like its near neighbour Greece?
Nothing that this place has not already seen in the past. Everything that has been tried on this place has already have happened. People are ready for whatever anyone throws at them. Its nothing new. We are not scared. Its life as usual.
8. What will happen with Kosovo?
Depends on views of current powers and their interests. It only remotely depends on people of Serbia and even less on people of Kosovo. People in Kosovo, are victims anyhow, and this applies both to Serbs and Albanians.
9. Is there any fresh blood in the political system? Who are the rising stars? Who should we be watching?
No stars. No one to watch. Everyone wants docile Serbia. Any smart people in Serbia are either silent or silenced, or, they are not in Serbia
(Save few that are not silent but are not generally heard either)
10. What does the future hold for Serbia?
This question is something that nobody can accurately predict. It just depends on too many factors.
Hope that your readers could understand situation in Serbia better. What is to say additionally?
You may be easily blinded by political issues in Serbia and understand that this equates to life in Serbia. Life in Serbia is not politics of Serbia. If you wished to understand life in Serbia – go to Serbia and meet people. If you wish to learn about politics in Serbia, read newspapers and (alternatively) participate in online groups.
Serbia is geographically in Europe, it shares destiny and history with it. It seems that this is not enough of understanding of european commonality, so there is need to make better understanding. I am afraid that Europe needs its own redesign. We are all having some problems in this region called Europe… common problems, individual problems. If we look at the history (that proposes to be teacher of life in spite of being unable to teach majority of people as they will repeat historical mistakes) what it usually happens on european ground is war, which involves everyone else and makes somebody else prospects. We shall be smarter than that and avoid any further conflicts by all means, even if we all go hungry. It is a choice as follows: would you be hungry on a short or on a long run?
Why did/didn’t you vote for President Nikolic?
Voted for him because the opposite party holds monopoly on public spending and i think that should change by letting the opposition rule.
Is there any substantial difference between Tadic and Nikolic
Yes, the one is sly and with a hidden agenda, and the other is upfront and honest.
What do you think of the prospect of Tadic as prime minister with Nikolic president
Nothing good should come out of that.
Who paid for the massive election campaigns of the main parties?
The people and private companies which use contributions as a weapon for influencing national policies.
What is the most important political issue for you? The state of the economy, political corruption, joining the EU or the welfare of Serbs in Kosovo
Non of those named, the most inportant issue for me is that individual regains its grace and stops being undermined in it’s quest for happiness.
Is it true the main parties are corrupt (embezzling money, controlled by foreign interests and oligarchs, collaborating with each other under the covers)
Of course, but the main problem is the lack of vision.
What will happen if Serbia has a crisis like its near neighbour Greece?
A kind of a civil war, to say at least.
What will happen with Kosovo?
It will remain independent.
Is there any fresh blood in the political system? Who are the rising stars? Who should we be watching?
Internetocraty/Internetokratija, Pirate Party/Piratska Partija, The 99% Movement, and all other movements based on new ideology which is to change this rotten and ready-to-fall system.
What does the future hold for Serbia?
More conflict, big social differences, and maybe a chance for real change. Hope it will not be missed once more.
I would like to stress one additional point for anyone really. If one just thinks of numbers, and rationalize without taking any emotion into it, and thus avoids any subjectivity there is one major question that we shall think about: a “democracy” system as it is in function almost everywhere in “free” world.
We adopted this system world wide as a model to decide what’s best for us. But, take this presidential elections in Serbia just as example (and I am sure that this is not different anywhere else), you have 2 contenders and one “wins” with 23% of votes.
What is to say about “winning” and what is to say about “democracy”? Isn’t democracy supposed to be a dictature of majority? If you think a bit, it is. Ones who lose are dictated by ones who win, and ones who win, shall be in majority. How that can explain !!winning!! with 23% of votes? It looks like minority wins over majority, and that is called “democracy”? There is something very wrong with perception of the general population of this planet, not only in Serbia.
If one asks me what I think about this election result, the answer would simply be – we lost. There shall be no president of Serbia.
1. I voted against Tadic.
2. Tadic is the most beautiful packaging of the same defective product.
3. They will co-operate well, if they have enough money for all the bosses and their minions.
4. Our people, the modern slaves.
5. The economy, unemployment, bad system of education and culture, social problems. The global problem that is present throughout the world to make people stupid for easier management. Here are poisoned by the trash media, because of distraction from the real problems of people.
6. Yes.
7. We will survive, we have long been in crisis, perhaps it will be better for us to get the last shot, then maybe when we collected the ashes finally understand something.
8. I sincerely hope nothing but good for all people living in Kosovo! This question should be asked world leaders, unfortunately.
9.Although maybe there somewhere, we can not see them, I hope they will soon be able to display.
Thank you! Sorry for the bad grammar and writing! Svako dobro!
In Serbia, we do not know what awaits tomorrow.
1. Why did/didn’t you vote for President Nikolic?
I crossed them both out. The reason I did that is obvious. About a day or two after elections we had this picture: http://images9.kurir-info.rs/slika-900×608/boris-tadic-tomislav-nikolic-1338969364-171468.jpg It doesn’t matter who wins. It really doesn’t. The political system itself is the problem, not the politicians. The system allows them to gain power, and power corrupts people. And it’s not just in Serbia. It’s worldwide.
2. Is there any substantial difference between Tadic and Nikolic?
I think my first answer is quite enough
3. What do you think of the prospect of Tadic as prime minister with Nikolic president?
A logical thing to happen. Then again, logic doesn’t always have to be just, or the right thing. People of Serbia didn’t vote for Tadić to be prime minister. They took away his mandate. And if you look at the polls, Nikolić has the support of only 25%< of the voters (46.87% of the voters actually went out and voted, and Nikolić got 49.7%)
4. Who paid for the massive election campaigns of the main parties?
Well isn't that a self-answered question? 39,541,699 (yes, 39.5 MILLION) EUR, or 4,389,128,550 RSD (yes, 4.4 BILLION RSD!!!) was spent on the pre-election campaign during only the FIRST ROUND! These are Transparency International figures. And that's budget money. I can't even imagine what the lobbyists were paying, I truly can't…
5. What is the most important political issue for you? The state of the economy, political corruption, joining the EU or the welfare of Serbs in Kosovo?
You imposed the answer, and that's not really fair. In my opinion, the first and topmost political question SHOULD BE transparency and accountability of politicians, as well as direct and democratic control over our elected representatives. That would lead to a consensual solution to all of the problems you adressed, that are forcedly kept as the main problems our politicians have to deal with. Media does wonders in this time and age.
6. Is it true the main parties are corrupt (embezzling money, controlled by foreign interests and oligarchs, collaborating with each other under the covers)?
I'm not even going to go there. Read the previous answer. Corruption itself is not a problem, it's the legal option to have corruption as a way of political conduct.
7. What will happen if Serbia has a crisis like its near neighbour Greece?
The crisis in Greece is a classic debt-crisis. What will happen? Well, we can only guess (the most probable scenario, regarding the mentality of the people here, is the same scenario as in Greece – nation wide protests, riots etc.) We should ask ourselves another question: what SHOULD happen. The answer is simple: we need an Iceland scenario. Google it, I'm not going to do all the work for you.
8. What will happen with Kosovo?
Why? Will it make any difference for the situation on site? Will the status of Kosovo be of any importance to people living there? No. To be honest, I think that situation in Serbia is better than in Kosovo. But I also think that fraudulent borders we are put in on our birth with no saying on the matter should be put down and that we should as a species live in a world of natural borders (water, land, forests etc.), so my opinion on this one is probably of no importance here. To give you some kind of answer, I think people should decide (people of Serbia and Kosovo together) on this one on a referendum.
9. Is there any fresh blood in the political system? Who are the rising stars? Who should we be watching?
Yes. The Pirate party. A global movement that says "We don't have all the answers, but we have all the right questions". And it's spreading viraly. You should look it up, if you haven't already. Top tags: /transparency/basic human rights/swarm economy/accountability/responsible and necessary legal system/reform of patents, "intellectual property" and similar ways of producing monopoly/sustainability/freedom of information/internet neutrality/secular state/etc. You also have Dveri, but they are waaaay too involved with the church for me to take them seriously (not that they shouldn't be watched).
Aside from these political movements, there is a strong people movement growing, and it's more "mind-evolution" oriented. They call themselves "the 99%" (in Serbia), "Occupy" (in various other countries), and also, there are the infamous "Anonymous", that represent the living conciousness of the Internet, for whom I have great respect.
10. What does the future hold for Serbia?
The same it holds for the entire world. We are on a brink of a new age, and maybe even in it without knowing. The Information Age. The Industrial Age is behind us. We are experiencing a huge paradigm shift. Common people are not so common anymore, as we are being empowered by the vast increase in communication capabilities. In one moment, we will (or better to say, they will) have to adapt to the new context in which children are born now. Currently, you still have Internet and informational immigrants (me, you, and everyone older than 20 yrs), but there are more and more informational natives, children born with broadband connections in their homes, talking to each other on different sides of the planet. That is a whole other story, but the implications of that state of society are HUGE, and we only need to play our cards right, and we won't have to worry.
Thanks a lot for this questionnaire, it was really introspective to answer it. I hope many people will read the answer, because I believe that there are many people that think alike. We just need to regroup, interconnect and do a system reinstall.
1.Why did/didn’t you vote for President Nikolic?
2.Is there any substantial difference between Tadic and Nikolic
3.What do you think of the prospect of Tadic as prime minister with Nikolic president
4.Who paid for the massive election campaigns of the main parties?
5.What is the most important political issue for you? The state of the economy, political corruption, joining the EU or the welfare of Serbs in Kosovo
6.Is it true the main parties are corrupt (embezzling money, controlled by foreign interests and oligarchs, collaborating with each other under the covers)
7.What will happen if Serbia has a crisis like its near neighbour Greece?
8.What will happen with Kosovo?
9.Is there any fresh blood in the political system? Who are the rising stars? Who should we be watching?
10.What does the future hold for Serbia?
Friends, please contribute more and speak up, in private by mail or right here
? Suae quisque faber fortunae (ancient Latin, u know? Everybody makes his fortune, it depends on our behaviour, our deeds, words and thoughts
1. I wanted to vote for Nikolic, because I want to see how it will look like when somebody other is president, Tadic was it for 8 years, and let’s see what will happen
now
2. Yes, maybe we can say Tadic is Belgrade man, and Nikolic is Serbian, different age and opinion how to lead Serbia
3. Ok, everything is possible to be good
4. Who, I suppose we, ordinary people and some men who have so much money and wanted to support campaigne of parties they like
5. The state of economy
6. Maybe, I don’t know
7. I don’t know, it would be really awful, after all these years-wars, bombing, every sort of crisis…but we can believe we could deal with it, so many bad things, but we’re still here
8. I think it would be part of sad Serbian memory of past
9. I like Vuk Jeremic and Dragan Djilas, but I think there are many young people, unknown, who have great possibilities
10. Who knows future except God
1. I do not vote, exactly for the reason u mentioned. Political system is crap.
2. I think it’s only on superficial level, again, cause of the way political system is made. So, u have Nikolic’s nationalist rhetorics, but the moves he will have to do won’t be as extreme as he perhaps want them to be. Same thing, vice versa, was with Tadic. He is neo-liberal, who had to use nationalist cosmetics to stay in power.
3. maybe it’s a good thing, cause ppl will feel the lack of true opposition, so it may lead to emergence of a true grass root movement doing what theoretically opposition is supposed to do.
4. as always, one can only speculate, lacking any evidence, or legal structures
5. none of that…economical question is on the second place, but more important is complete absence of any true critical opinion in social circles, that undermines xenophobia that we live in…and systematical neglect of youth on every level…we are one of few countries that pays more attention towards old ppl, but none for youth
6. Corruption is way of life, cause of economy state and disappointment of middle class, if it can be said it still exists
7.Nothing, we live in crisis for past 3 decades
8. who cares? There will be no freedom for them, since they become an economy base for western powers, on the other side, serbia can not make an ethnic group neglected for decades make feel welcome in it…so, good luck to them, i feel sorry for situation they are in
9. there are movements, building up…it depends on political soberness of common ppl how they will do…we’ll see
it may be anarchists like in greece, maybe pirate party, or in worst case scenario, extreme right, if ppl stay stupid and conservative, with complete absence of solidarity among each other
10. hahahahahaha, this one is great…noone can predisc…but, if i have to say, i think u should pay attention towards periphery of serbia
What does the future hold for Serbia?
1. I could not vote for neither candidate. They did not deserve my vote.
2. Visual difference. Maybe Tadic was a different in era when he just wanted to be successful in politics. Nikolic was never person of confidence.
3. Tadic is a bad choice for prime minister. No authority, no real support in the party, no respect of citizens (lost elections). Name of president is not important. Nikolic as president will be very cooperative with any government
4. Citizens thru state budget, tycoons, rich party members…but it will never be announced
5.economy, rule of law
6.Politicians don’t even hide it
7. in few months we will see it. Greece have wider effect. Serbian fall will be a catastrophic for citizens and more painful
8. Kosovo is too far from most of citizens of Serbia. Kosovo is independent for most of important countries in the world. Serbia is to small to do anything about it. Except to harm herself.
9. Djilas from Democratic party, he is not brand new but he will topple Tadic as a party leader. Dveri as a party may have small but important role on next elections. Socialist party is potentially next main political party in Serbia.
10. Future for Serbia> In next few months huge economic crisis , new parliamentary elections in year, year and the half , potential social turmoils
1 I voted regularly since i gained voting right. Last 20 years i voted democratic options, mainly DS. But I got the impression than there is no honest and capable person among polititians of any option, so I decided not to vote anymore.
2 There is no substantial difference between Tadic and Nikolic , both they are conducted by wether big capial, or foreign forces. Both are just puppets.
3 Milosevic used to be president than prime minister, than president again. Same are doing Putin and Medvedev, as many other dictartors.
4 I dont know who all gave money, but all the money that could be spent from government to wellfare of me and my familly is actualy spent to unnecesarry voting costs.
5 All of this problems, including few more are crucial, and in Serbia they are all connected. There are no simple – one sided solutions. All of these problems must be treated with great concern and most severely.
6 I belive that is true.
7 Many disturbances, many ruined lifes, but for the difference from last changes, people are tired of revolutions and fights. I dont belive there could be war caused by ecoomic crises.
8 Kosovo had happened. There is nothing big to be done any more for long time now. Serbia must wait for political climat to change radicaly to regain its truthfull right on Kosovo and Metohija as its natural part.
9 All clever and honest men who could be fresh blood are very carefull not to join politics, for it was shown that everyone, however he had good causes on mind and good will to truly hepl, when got to politics becomes corrupted and bad.
10 Serbia is in very misty and dark present, so nobody can not tell about its future.
I`m not adult yet, so I couldn`t vote, but I wouldn`t vote anyway for any of these two. I would give a chance to Dveri Srpske or someone else who`s new and uncorrupted. This Tadic or Nikolic situation is too similar to “democracy” in USA, and demos don`t really have kratos. Things won`t get better, as Serbia has the biggest taxes in the world and takes new credit from MMF every now and then only to sustain it`s current condition. Whatever happens, we cannot affect on it by elections like this. To change a country, people must first change themselves.
Most people think the same – the situation is bad and needs to change. Actually, the situation worse and WE need to change it. We are Serbia. We crate the future. We have the power! We`re not using it…
Completely agree with BOTE
Copy/Paste his words..with my sign…
1. I voted against Tadić this time. Reasons are simple: one can not be president for more than 10 years according to our constitution. Tadić wanted to use a legal loophole (he treated the union of Serbia and Montenegro as a ‘different’ country, yet he was not the president of that union, but president of Serbia at the time). Tadić was also unable to subdue the rampant corruption which stems from his own party. I do not blame him for the deeds of his associates ( he is probably the least corrupt of the lot), but he should have wiped his party clean of pests. The people know what high ranking Democratic Party representatives are doing. That is why he got punished in these elections.
2. Tadić is only better looking and more eloquent. In every other respect they are completely the same: incompetent idiots who need to retire.
3. I expect riots towards the end of the year in Serbia if Tadić and Democratic Party remain in power.
4. Corporate executives and oligarchs.
5. Corruption stemming from political parties. Politicians in Serbia are like viruses which are making the country sick.
6. Yes and the people know that.
7. NATO will exploit that weakness and pressure Serbia even more to give up Kosovo.
8. If we keep resisting outside pressures it will be split between Serbia and Albania (hopefully in a peaceful, diplomatic manner). If we keep giving in even more, the north of Kosovo will also become controlled by Pristina
9. Pirate Party of Serbia, Dveri movement and ‘We are the 99%’ movement.
10. The future doesn’t ‘hold’ anything. It is the people who have the power to shape their own destiny, as well as their country. I hope that the people will rebel against rampant political corruption and oligarchs and finally manage to take back their rights!
Dear Katja,
it is a major task and one of great labor for Danes to understand Serbs!
I like your enthusiasm and support the effort!
The political situation in the country, as far as I can see, and as far as the people I know can see, is mainly influenced by the economic crisis, large unemployment rates and the seeping sensation of the doomsday promised! (Greek scenario) The difference between us and Greece is that we have been exposed to the ruthless experiment for the last 20 years, and therefore, we might be more patient, more resilient, less belligerent…or just fed up and tired.
Tadic and his DS are corrupt, they corrupted every pore of this poor and economically proven nation, they destroyed what was left of the social bonds and solidarity between workers, and left the doors open for the modern day slavery. Therefore, they were punished and they lost the elections.
It is the people who pay for the 600.000 Eur bullet proof Mercedes extravaganza for Tadic, the elections, their nontransparent spending and elections campaigns, etc.
General and utter disappointment is what we feel right now> for we see no difference between Milosevic era and today. Therefore, the elections were boycotted, or ignored by the majority of the nation. As our politicians know what we feel, the elections were organized on a major holiday (St. George-s day)
We still don’t know how many citizens can vote. We have no proper information on any aspect, for all media are under DS oligarchy control. We see our pockets emptied daily, and see no prospect for our children. We see threats of war in Kosovo Metohija, and we are sick of wars. We see our factories closed and see young educated kids leave for Australia again. We have become a society of old people, waiting for Western Union moneygramms.
Nikolic is an enigma, but let us give him the 100 days.
As for the emerging opposition, I am rather reserved, but it is my opinion. We have not had the fresh start, the clean slate from the communist era, and we do not know what and how and who is running the show…secret services are still very much secret, there is no democratic control over them, or any other aspect of the administrative apparatus.
As for EU integration prospects…..dear Katja, it is a fools errand, since Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria, etc etc are falling out, why should we go there, how could we go there…even if we met the standards!! which we do not!???
Hope I helped you in your task and made the Danes understand us better. (I loved your beautiful country, which I visited several times.)
Keep up the good work! This is the kind of talk that we all need in all of Europe…it could surely help us all to see our difficulties and share possible solutions! Cheers!
1) Why did/didn’t you vote for President Nikolic?
First time voted. Voted against Tadic, more then for Nikolic. They are really both the same, but choosing lesser evil is not acceptable for me anymore. Did not vote for Nikolic in round 2 of presidential elections because he ate excrement feigning electoral fraud in round 1(to be honest, I think it happened, but that he can’t/does not wan’t to prove it). He should should have just sticked to his strategy in the last 3 days from the start, that of being a polite, populist politician… He would have won with a greater advantage. People are generally sick of Tadic.
2) Is there any substantial difference between Tadic and Nikolic
Theoretically, yes, there should be, Nikolic is much tougher when it comes to EU (the Kosovo problem), Tadic was just feigning it for votes. Unfortunately, NATO warplanes make any distinctions mute. Lack of support from the EU for Tadic in this election pretty much showed it.
3) What do you think of the prospect of Tadic as prime minister with Nikolic president
Best possible outcome: They start tripping over each other toes and expose each others corruption… that’s a very unlikely unfortunately, as it seems both are same sh*t, different packaging.
4) Who paid for the massive election campaigns of the main parties?
Shady money, that’s clear just from looking at the amount of TV commercials (we were carpet bombed) for totally unimportant “democratic” parties that barely reached census (5%) and the prevalence of “democratic” propaganda over opposition based one, since most of media is tightly controlled by the “democratic” elite. You would think milk and honey flowed here if you read our newspapers during the campaign. Kosovo, which flared up again, for those 3-4 months was literally bellow the radar, while foreign investors were literally waiting in line to invest in Serbia. Oil sands worth 2-3 billion EUR (we have none, trust me), the biggest solar plant in the world worth 2-3 billion (our sky is good, but not that good), hundreds of millions of dollars of investors rushing like mad in a flying start just to have a chance to throw money at us… first day after the elections…It actually made the people cheerful and happy. Nobody was cranky… They didn’t knew why… I did. It should really be mandated by law. Positive propaganda… right now, apart from a little bit of freedom of press (to bash democrats) while the government forms itself, we are again reading headlines like “She chopped off her boyfriends testicles with a saw”, “Killed x and injured xx with a hand grenade in a bar”, “Burned and burried his wife of 50 years”, “Killed his granma with an axe”…
3) What is the most important political issue for you? The state of the economy, political corruption, joining the EU or the welfare of Serbs in Kosovo
Economy, Kosovo (though Serbia can’t do anything about it unless it wants to canibalize itself), EU is a pipe dream for sheep though I have nothing against unified Europe, and in fact, desire it.
4) Is it true the main parties are corrupt (embezzling money, controlled by foreign interests and oligarchs, collaborating with each other under the covers)
Actually, in this country, the US ambassador probably wields more power then our President/prime minister. They all regularly report to him. You can read about it in wikileaks if you are really inclined. (http://wikileaks.org/cable/2010/01/10BELGRADE19.html)
This is an example, a pretty mild one from the first 2-3 paragraphs… There more damning ones, but I have more things to write.
4) What will happen if Serbia has a crisis like its near neighbour Greece?
It can not have a crisis like that. The situation is different. The Serbian wages are underappritiated currently, because of our nonexisting exports, while the Greek ones are blown into the skies. Totaly different perspectives. Our wages are falling like rocks through air due to corrections that the fluctuating exchange rate is imposing on our spending. Don’t worry, it won’t happen. The debts are problematic but our spending is already correcting itself (not enough, of course) though the EUR/DIN exchange rate.
5) What will happen with Kosovo?
Hopefully, it will remain a black hole of Europe for a long time, therefore making the greater Albania aspirations die out with time. As for Serbs in the Northern part, well, they will be slowely cleansed in the next 20-30 years, like in the last 40 years while the policy of Albanian apeasement was carried out by communists in the former Yugoslavia, before detente in 1989 and then insurgency in 95 onwards until 99 and NATO.
There isn’t that many of them left anyway… 150 thousand or so in Kosovo. There is more internally displaced serbs from kosovo here in the unnocupied part of serbia, 200 000+. And sorry about the harsh term, but although we did capitulate and allow NATO in, it is in fact, a typical case of occupation, and should be called like that by those countries that still respect our sovernity… including ourselves.
Is there any fresh blood in the political system? Who are the rising stars? Who should we be watching?
6) Nope. Nobody important. Was a pirate up until a day or two ago. Good ideas, but lead by same excrement like the other parties.
7) What does the future hold for Serbia?
A little bit of insurgency in southern Serbia by Albanians in the next 20-30 years (EU is a pipe dream…) if Kosovo success makes them high again for some reason. Small insurgency like we had in 2000-2001. For the record, we crushed that one, funny how that’s allowed when you are a democrat. Other then that, it should be quiet as long as NATO holds it’s grip on our every neighbour, and through them, us as well.
For the record, I gave a lot of flak to Albanians here in this post, maybe to much. It’s not the people, it’s the criminals that will do it and have done it, as it ussually happens everywhere. Only deranged or criminals take up arms in an insurgency, or go into the army (or police), for that matter.
And again, for the record, we certainly had our share of deranged/criminals rampaging through kosovo in the nineties after the insurgency started. I am certain shit happened though. Not nearly as much as NATO claims though. Most of NATO’s claims are fabricated or just spin, like Syria is probably right now (I’ve lived through it, I can smell it from a mile, take Libya currently as a good example of what NATO supported)…
See you in a better world. Peace.
1. Why did/didn’t you vote for President Nikolic?
Because he’s uneducated liar who betrayed his best man, a supporter of ”kitsch und schund” .. Why do I need such a President?
2. Is there any substantial difference between Tadic and Nikolic?
Yes, there is difference. Tadic is the opposite of everything that Nikolic is in the first answered question.
3. What do you think of the prospect of Tadic as prime minister with Nikolic president?
I don’t think about it, it is inevitable.
4. Who paid for the massive election campaigns of the main parties?
Dirty money, ‘unkown’ source.
5. What is the most important political issue for you? The state of the economy, political corruption, joining the EU or the welfare of Serbs in Kosovo?
The state of the economy and political corruption.
6. Is it true the main parties are corrupt (embezzling money, controlled by foreign interests and oligarchs, collaborating with each other under the covers)?
YES.
7. What will happen if Serbia has a crisis like its near neighbour Greece?
‘Oh, no! Not again!’
8. What will happen with Kosovo?
Unfortunately, nothing.. Kosovo has always been Serbia, history and facts
are ther to prove it. She’s not ours for a quite some time. Serbia sold her.
9. Is there any fresh blood in the political system? Who are the rising stars? Who should we be watching?
Dragan Djilas, Belgrade mayor, he’s very capable man.
10. What does the future hold for Serbia?
It’s very misty veiw. We walk along the edge and yet somehow we keep, we have to put everything in economy and education and hope for better
1. I voted on every election in Serbia. However, it insults my intelligence that the candidate is a person who forged his University diploma. Even if I disregard that, that person had so many wrong moves in his political career – to ignore those during the war, just to mention that last autumn he tried to blackmail the Parliament with a hunger strike in order to fulfill his everlasting desire to become the President.
2. On the surface, yes – Tadic is educated, well mannered, eloquent person who speaks with reason. Unfortunately, his deeds didn’t cover for his words, in other words, he didn’t do what he promised and he proved himself as weak making too many compromises. On the other hand, you have a half educated person whose only ambition is to prosper politically. As far as I know, he never came up with a good idea – Nikolic, unlike Tadic who at least said what needs to be done, never uttered a single good idea.
3. As it might seem the worst case scenario, I see it as the most positive thing that could have come out of this election. Personally, I would like to see them out of the politics forever, but as they are now it might bring balance and they could monitor each other. You ask, monitor what? Well, what every politician in Serbia dreams of – to gain power and to become rich in shady, filthy transactions through corruption. Of course, they don’t need help of the common people, but of the rich few who easily satisfy financial politicians’ needs knowing that by corrupting them, they will have the politicians in their hands.
4. Of course – the tycoons of the transition period. That way they gain control over the politicians, and therefore the whole state. And then the common people have no one to protect them from wild prices, high taxes, social and health insurance etc. What brings money to a tycoon is the only thing that they are interested of. They are not at all or just publicly interested in the state and the people’s well being. Anyway, the law protects them even if they don’t pay the wages to their workers. The law written and adopted by the politicians.
5. I think that the corruption is the cancer of Serbian society. And I’m not talking about policeman who takes 10 euros and let the driver who passed through the red light go. The land in Vojvodina is sold to tycoons. The factories are converted to private property just to get closed and sold for more or to change their purpose. Corruption is present in every layer of Serbian society. And of course that nominally the state of the economy is more important, but it won’t get better if the Government doesn’t give up the control over important state transactions to an independent non-government body. Joining the EU… Who knows what will happened in the next several years with the EU – it definitely won’t cease to exist, but in which form, we’ll have to wait and see. Kosovo – it is a foreign country now. We lost the war. We will never give up the fact that this is where our heart is, that this is our country and that in future we will take any opportunity to take it back. However, the reality is different, and we have to respect that, recognize the mode of normal, peaceful functioning with Kosovo for the sake of the Serbs living over there instead of supporting the ‘parallel’ local governments who are nothing but local tycoons gaining power and richness through the state help.
6. As I said, the corruption is present in every segment of Serbian society. The politicians and political parties are the generators of the corruption. That is solely for their financial benefit funded by local tycoons and possibly foreign interest. Thank God for Wikileaks. Tha funniest fact for the past few years is that if one wanted the sponsorship from Telekom Serbia, a state owned company, the best way was through Aleksandar Vucic, the leader of the SNS, the opposition party of the now president Nikolic. That says it all. The cards have been dealt long time ago.
7. Of we are hit by the crisis, nothing will happen. We will get poorer, the world will have more economic refugees working on the black market, the few will continue to get rich, and the common people will suffer. There is a bitter-funny saying about this possibility – what worse can happen to us after bombing, inflation of several million (!) percent and poverty that we still didn’t recover from? Said, but probably true. In few words, if crisis hits, Europe, here we come.
8. Kosovo will never be recognized by Serbia officially. It is our land and our homeland. Technically, we are half way there – recognizing it. Sooner or later, we will have to function normally with this quasi state – sooner is better. Btw, quasi state is because it was made by Americans to produce a drug production and distribution center in Europe; the cargo from Afghanistan is too expensive, and the war brings the price of heroin up. If you didn’t know, since Kosovo became ‘independent’, the heroin price dropped to 15% of its price.
9. I personally draw an indecent picture on my voting paper – it was my message to the current political establishment. I was happy to see the strong campaign against these, as we were called ‘white votes’ – politically irresponsible, they called us. We didn’t fall for yet another campaign by Democratic party and President Tadic where they ‘warned’ us of the ‘great evil’ in President Nikolic. Democrats and Tadic won past two elections by winning over us to vote for them as the lesser evil. They never offered us a proper, strong pull ahead. And, more or less that is the story of the rest of the political establishment in Serbia.
However, the ‘white votes’ gave me the hope for the first time that people want change. 5% of the voters voted this way. And I know for a fact that some of those – really white votes (just plain voting lists without drawings thrown into the voting ballots) were rigged to become a regular vote for some of the candidates. This means that there is a new, fresh political idea coming out from the mud. The best known names are the old democratic fighters against Milosevic, the members of that old Democratic party of our murdered prime minister Zoran Djindjic. The party that we all believed in. Namely, Vesna Pesic, Srbijanka Turajlic, of the people who were there before are Kori Udovicki, former Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic, the Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic, the Commissioner for Public Information Rodoljub Sabic… Unfortunately, the fiercest fighter against corruption died of cancer – Verica Barac. I hope we will be seeing some new people soon. Unfortunately, the revolution generation that brought Milosevic down are now between 40 and 50 and too old to react. And these are the white votes. The young generations are quite brainwashed with Kosovo. Their energy is channeled to serve political oligarchs, so whenever there is a need for disrupting the normal life in Serbia, the army of hooded boys in 20s are on the streets. What we need is a strong, aggressive campaign addressed to young generations educating them on the personal and national prospects.
10. I wish I had a crystal ball. However, I would like to see the new, reformed Democratic party that will go back to its roots take over the lead and take us to Europe, without compromising with Milosevic time. What I think it will happened – the EU will hold us at their door eternally, like Turkey. We will be neither here or there, it won’t be bad but it will be far from good. In other words, it is a status quo for Serbia for the past few centuries, since this is what suits foreign interests. Otherwise, we will have more Prime Ministers killed, as Djindjic was killed when he wanted to separate from the directions he was getting from the foreign centers of power. Yes, conspiracy theory, that is exactly how they want you to call it.
1. Why did/didn’t you vote for President Nikolic?
I didn’t want to vote AGAINST, like i did in past 20 years, but FOR. And I couldn’t find positive reason to vote. DS and Boris Tadic became too confident and rude, and they took monopoly over money flow, jobs in public sector, etc, etc. I wanted him to lose. On the other side, I could never vote for Nikolic that represents step backwards in any sense. He’s not competent, suitable, educated, mannered, skilled, experieced… to be president. But, I’ve made a statement by making my vote invalid.
2. Is there any substantial difference between Tadic and Nikolic
Athough they are represented in public like two opposite political options (Tadic west-oriented, well-mannered, educated, capable – Nikolic nationalist, rude, etc.) they have in common that they belong to the same closed system of political elite in Serbia – the ordinary man would say: “they are all the same, they are all interested only in power and money” We are looking at the same faces too long.
3. What do you think of the prospect of Tadic as prime minister with Nikolic president
Instead of one man in the wrong place at the wrong time, now we have them two. Wrong move for Tadic, but understandable when we consider the motives of the people around him. They are saving their priviledges.
4. Who paid for the massive election campaigns of the main parties?
Tycoons, business subjects that are depending on DS financially, an of course common people
5. What is the most important political issue for you? The state of the economy, political corruption, joining the EU or the welfare of Serbs in Kosovo
Corruption. We don’t have a system.
6. Is it true the main parties are corrupt (embezzling money, controlled by foreign interests and oligarchs, collaborating with each other under the covers)
Yes. They are acting like gangs.
7. What will happen if Serbia has a crisis like its near neighbour Greece?
We have been there already, nothing will happen, especially now. People are tired and too busy by surviving. The worst thig is that PEOPLE LOST THEIR FAITH.
8. What will happen with Kosovo?
What is Kosovo? What I’m trying to say is that it’s obvious that Kosovo is not part of Serbia, but instead of gaining political and economical advantages from that, we are sinking deeper and deeper.
9. Is there any fresh blood in the political system? Who are the rising stars? Who should we be watching?
I have to repeat: people lost their fate. I don’t see anybody. Dveri Srpske tried to represent themselves as new blood, but they are clerical nationalists, profascists and too dangerous and radical for my taste. They are civilisational step backwards.
10. What does the future hold for Serbia?
If we establish the new, corruption free system NOW and take the reasonable course of economical development and integration, I think we’ll have at least 20 years of hard work in front of us. And this is not what is happening now.
1. I nullified my vote in the first round, since there wasn’t anyone really worth voting for, and I didn’t vote in the second round, because I didn’t want to choose between the two evils.
2. Basically, there is no difference. They both want to be in power so that they could steal from the citizens while making it look as if they are doing everything they can to revitalize Serbia. On the other hand, Nikolic is very shifty (he was in the Serbian Radical Party, which is anti-european, and then he basically changed his mind, started his own party, and became pro-european) while Tadic remained on the same course over the years (at least in public).
3. I think it’s a very bad thing for Serbia, since Tadic basically assumed the role of the prime minister while he was the president and he didn’t do anything to earn my trust, or the trust of the voters, he was punished for being a bad president, he should not be allowed to be on such a high position in government.
4. Some of the money came from the budget, rest of it is unknown, but I presume that tycoons gave them the money, so that they can ask for favors later.
5. Political corruption and the state of the economy.
6. Yes, it is true, although the political parties do their best to hide their tracks, so no one can bring them to court.
7. Most likely nothing special. Most of the people here are used to that, they keep saying “I don’t care about that, we can’t change anything, so I won’t even try.”, the election results are the proof of that theory. Maybe young people will try to organise protests, but they will lack the support of the majority, so nothing will happen.
8. Kosovo is no longer a part of Serbia. It is independent, but most of the people in Serbia, as well as the politicians refuse to admit that. Kosovo was lost a long time ago, now it just became official.
9. There is the Dveri movement (which is basically a right-wing clero-fascist organization made legal – most of their members are the same people that caused the violence and destruction in Belgrade on more than one occasion). Other than that – the Pirate Party of Serbia is on the rise, they are working on registering as the official party, although democracy in Serbia is quite expensive.
10. No one knows really.
1. Let me say right off the bat that Tadic is far from the perfect president, but Nikolic, in my opinion, is even worse. Nikolic has a horrid history full of hate and far-right attitudes and actions. He’s a flip-flopper as well. He (probably) didn’t even finish college. I’m not saying that people who don’t are bad or something, I’m just saying that you shouldn’t lie about it. Nikolic doesn’t speak a foreign language
2. Tadic is much more presentable to the international community. For us, Serbs, I don’t think there is much of a difference.
3. I really don’t know. I hope that Tadic will “wake up” and actually start doing something, because I do beleive he is a capable politician. As for Nikolic I’m just hoping that he doesn’t worsen the image Serbia has in the world now. I know it’s far from a good image, but it is better than what it was 20 years ago.
4. The citizens of Serbia, of course.
5. The economy, the corruption and human rights.
6. Yes, it is. They are all the same, 80% of people who live well ( or are even employed) are politically active. Being politically active in Serbia just shows you’re a good “servant” and not really a person of integrity- of course there are exceptions to that. Also, not only the main ones are intertwined, the vast majority of the small ones are in the same boat.
7. We would be fucked, excuse my language. Simple as that. The majority of the people are brainwashed and they would do nothing? Protest? Fuck that I’m gonna watch a turking soap opera. On an unrelated note, if the gays decide to make a Pride Parade all hell breaks loose on the streets of Belgrade.
8. Nothing, people in Serbia will never acknowledge its obvious independence, we’re gonna waste time and money on it, and it is gonna divert us from the real problems in the country. You’re being labeled a “traitor” if you’re pragmatic and rational nowadays.
9. A lot of people seem to be mentioning Dveri. I hope they would just disappear, though. Nothing but a backwards clero fascist movement. Although their appearance divided the people who vote for right wing clero-fascists betweem them and the Serbian Radical Party ( SRS- Nikolic’s former party, their leader is in the Hague at the moment- Vojislav Seselj). There’s talk that Dveri were in fact created just for the purpose of purging the far-right wing from the parliament. I’m happy that there are no more of them in the parliament but I don’t like the way it has been done- it was nothing short of manipulation.
10. I’m not very optimistic about the future of Serbia. I’m only 18 years old, a “liberal” in a very conservative society, and I’m fed up with all the bullshit, I’ll try my best to get the hell out of here, as should all capable young people. I know it’s a horrible thing to say, but no fucking chance I’m staying here and kissing someone’s ass for 300 euros a month.
All the best.
1.I didn’t vote for Nikolic because because i do not think that he is, in any way, a good representative of my country. Actually, he represents everything that is wrong with it – nationalism
2. To me – yes. I’m not saying Tadic is the best, but at least he is a better diplomat and in the time he was the president he managed to do some things (no more vizas for an example) that a lot of people seem to forget.
3.I think it’s may give balance.
4. It came out of our tax money.
5. The state of economy, for sure. Kosovo isn’t a part of Serbia, and that’s the harsh reality politicians need to accept, and there is no need to wast any more money then it’s needed there. We, the serbs are, and out economy should be the most important.
6. It’s highly possible.
7. We already had that in the 90′s, only much worse.
8. Absolutely nothing. It’ll stay independent the way it is.
9. The newest party are “Dveri” who are ultra nationalistic, and none new ones i personally would support.
10. This is very uncertain, especially with our new president.
1. I didn’t vote. There is no point. It’s like picking who would you rather be robbed by – absolutely the same for you; it can only benefit the robber.
2. Tadic is not a party-hopper. Nikolic formed a new party which holds very different values than his previous one. He diametrically changed his opinions in a single day. At the very least, this kind of behaviour is suspicious. I would never vote for such a person. I cannot understand the people who voted for him.
3. Same as any other combination, really. It is hypocritical of Tadic to accept the role of prime minster, since he said he would do so under no circumstances. Staying in power is literally the only thing that matters to these people. It’s kind of disappointing that the EU encourages this kind of political behaviour. It seems to me like the EU doesn’t really care about how people live in Serbia, the only thing that matters to them is to gain benefits for trading here, gaining benefits for European companies doing business in Serbia and having influence on our politicians. As long as a politician is willing to bend to their demands, he’s good enough for them. Nikolic seems to be good enough for the EU.
4. The state budget, tycoons and there’s probably lots of foreign influence and funding.
5. Political corruption. It’s the cause of all the other problems, and sometimes I think it’s woven into Serbian mentality. If you’re not a member of some political party, you will have difficulties in almost every area of life in Serbia, especially when trying to find a job.
6. Yes, and there’s no doubt about that.
7. Another decade or two of living miserably. But who cares, that seems to be the default state of living here, right?
8. It will eventually gain full independance and recognition from Serbia. It is a process that is already happening. But there’s no point in keeping Kosovo, anyways.
9. There’s always fresh blood, but never fresh ideas. Everyone who does politics in Serbia is in it only for the money and personal gain.
10. No one knows. Probably nothing good. More smart people will leave the country, politicians will keep stealing state money, tycoons will enlarge their monopolies, people will still live miserably.
1.Why did/didn’t you vote for President Nikolic?
– I didn’t vote at all, because there is no concrete difference between Tadic and Nikolic, at the moment. Voting for any of them would’ve been against my views, because they don’t really represent any ideas I would support.
On the other hand, I’m glad Nikolic won, because Tadic was way too long the most powerful politician in Serbia, but the fact he might end up being the Prime Minister is sad.
2.Is there any substantial difference between Tadic and Nikolic?
– While Tadic was the President, he was still also the president of his political party, which is actually against the constitution, but as always, no one cared about that stuff. He was basically in charge of everything.
One saddening fact about Nikolic is that he is a “former” nationalist, who was in Seselj’s political party, which supported ideas of “Great Serbia”, but he changed his policy, as he saw that that ideal isn’t working any more, at least not that strongly.
But at the moment, there’s not much difference between the two.
3.What do you think of the prospect of Tadic as prime minister with Nikolic president?
– As mentioned, it’s saddening. One thing that’s good about it, is the split of power, but I think that won’t make any difference, they will just collaborate.
4.Who paid for the massive election campaigns of the main parties?
– I think it was Miroslav Miskovic who sponsored the campaigns. At least he was one of the sponsors. He is a former “socialist” from Milosevic’s reign, now he’s one of the most powerful men in Serbia (might actually be the most powerful). I don’t know of other sponsors, but there probably were.
5.What is the most important political issue for you? The state of the economy, political corruption, joining the EU or the welfare of Serbs in Kosovo
-Fixing everything – corruption overall (not just in the political sector), state of the economy, education, media, average Serb mentality (less conformism), none of which is really being planned on.
6. Is it true the main parties are corrupt (embezzling money, controlled by foreign interests and oligarchs, collaborating with each other under the covers)
– Most likely.
7.What will happen if Serbia has a crisis like its near neighbour Greece?
– I don’t know, but I’m worried about that a lot, mainly because, unlike Greece we don’t react to our crisis, we adapt to them, and that’s awful.
8.What will happen with Kosovo?
– What has happened to Kosovo, happened more than 10 years ago. The history of it is so long, I see no reason for discussion about it’s state. And to be honest, I don’t really care about it, I just hope the people stay safe, whether we split Kosovo, or give it to them. Kosovo is used as an awful propaganda tool, to drive away thoughts about other much bigger problems.
9.Is there any fresh blood in the political system? Who are the rising stars? Who should we be watching?
– I see the Serbian Pirate Party as a potential vote-worthy candidate in the future. They’re not an official candidate yet, because they don’t have enough signatures for it, but their ideas are decent, I might even join them. But, I’m still not informed enough about them and their work, so I might change my thoughts about them in the future.
10.What does the future hold for Serbia?
– I don’t even want to think about it… My dad is an economist, and he said he thinks there’s no solution for improving Serbia’s economy state, and our mentality as mentioned is awful. It’s nothing like the West. There has been no major protest/riot against the government since 2000. when we overthrew Milosevic. There were riots against the independence of Kosovo, something like 5 years after they got control over it, the Ratko Mladic/Radovan Karadzic riots, who amongst some people are considered war heroes, and the anti-Gay pride riot – all of which are obviously nationalist riots, and brought nothing constructive with them. Everyone will whine how bad it is, no one will do anything about it.
1) Didn’t vote. Figured Tadic would win, given Nikolic’s pre-election outbursts of idiocy (more than usual). Guess I was wrong.
2) Aside from a more pleasant and worldly appearance as well as eloquence of Tadic, not really. Both are incompetent and unwilling.
3) If Tadic does decide to become the PM, it will likely be political suicide both the for the gentleman in question as well as his party. Why? Because all the future failures will be blamed on him and the Democratic Party, thus putting the proverbial nail in the coffin for all involved.
4) Corporate executives, private interests, and perhaps the taxpayers, although I’m not sure the latter is constitutional. But then again, who gives a shit, right?
5) Everything on the list with varying degrees of importance, except the EU. Not a fan, sorry; seems to be falling apart anyway. Mostly the economy and corruption.
6) Yes.
7) Don’t know. Probably nothing. Maybe war. Hoping for war. If we’re gonna die starving, might as well go in style.
8) Nothing.
9) Nope.
10) We shall see.
Milos June 3, 2012 at 5:13 pm <–this.
We both have the same name, and share the same opinion.
I never liked Nikolic and his company, actually I detested their ideas. But now after 10 years of Tadic’s rule when Serbia is bankrupt, corruption is worse than in Milosevic’s era, we have no economy, laws don’t protect people, I detest Tadic and his company the same. So practically now I don’t care, I know that it will be bad who ever comes. Choosing between two evils is not a choice. I didn’t vote, and probably will not vote in near future.
1. Didn’t vote in second round. Not really much of a choice between Tadic & Nikolic.
2. Beside their appearance (Tadic more slick, Nikolic more crude) they are not much different, they only care about themselves
3. Nothing has really changend. Tadic and democrats will continue to pull strings. Now it’s maybe even better for them because they can blame all on Nikolic.
4. Those who will benefit when they win
5. Our current economy is worse than economy of banana exporting countries
6. They are corrupt to the bone.
7. Situation in Serbia is already much worse than in Greece, but still there will be no riots because we’re mostly apathetic nation
8. USA/EU will decide
9. No. Serbian politics scene is no place for a honest man.
10. Now is terrible, but it will get only worse. Loaning money and getting into debts just to cover salaries/pensions leads only one way.
1) I haven’t voted at all since I was in town with friends. Had I voted, I would vote for Nikolic because it was apparent that Tadic’s party has won the parliamentary elections, and I believe that it is good for the political scene to be diverse.
2) There are a lot of personal differences between the two, but I don’t think there will be a lot of difference in their politics.
3) Hopefully they will keep an eye on each other and not allow each other to do anything really bad.
4) No idea.
5) The state of economy and political corruption are closely intertwined. Since economy affects what Serbia can do on Kosovo, I’d say economy is more important.
6) Yes, yes and yes. Although I wouldn’t call it embezzling, they have developed more sophisticated ways of taking the money away.
7) Serbia already has a crisis worse than Greece.
8) Hopefully, nothing.
9) Dveri and NOPO.
10) Doom and gloom.