Belgrade’s decision is expected soon on whether freezing of the campaign of Srpska Ticket will mean the boycott of elections, said political analyst Dušan Janjić to RTK2. He predicts that turnout of Serbs in Kosovo elections won’t be big, and stressed that important political question after elections will be who will get ministerial posts from Serb community, after elections.
CEC’s decision on ballots, electoral rolls, members of the electoral commissions and distribution of mandates have been quoted as reasons form freezing the campaign of Srpska Ticket. Freezing of the campaign hasn’t weaken the position of Srpska Ticket, however it remains an open question whether this could lead to boycott of elections.
“Who doesn’t participate, loses. Those are rules of democracy. However, that refers only to those who really care about having Serbs staying here in their own houses. While for the other ones, who wish to make political or financial profit and to play the game with continued crises, it can be very beneficial if it could lead to boycott of elections,” claims Janjić.
According to him forces in northern Kosovo who were advocating boycott of local elections are even stronger now, but with the lack of meaningful campaign for and against the elections, political tensions have been reduced. Yet, he is not expecting higher turnout than in local elections.
“I expect low turnout in the north, that is actually the real problem hiding behind the fear with regards to the threshold, since turnout in local elections was around 48 thousand. Now, the turnout around 45-47 thousand maximum, can’t meet the aspirations announced by politicians in Belgrade and here, and that one is to win even 20 seats,” explained Janjić. He reminded that when Kosovo Constitution was amended, Serbs didn’t deal with Kosovo, now they are surprised with the consequences.
Janjić reflected on the new legislation referring to elections and said that he couldn’t understand it either, and added that he heard member of the CEC Nenad Rikao stating that Serbs could win up to 25 seats, whereas others say that they can’t win even ten seats. He stressed that members of the CEC should be educated in order that they are capable of reading and understanding laws, and that discipline and culture of public communication should be introduced because, according to him, ‘if someone is a member of certain body, he/she shouldn’t spin the public’.
Janjić said that no matter that five Serbian lists have been registered, there are only two real options, and those are Progressive Democratic Party and Srpska Ticket. In his opinion creation of Srpska Ticket and joining of the Independent Liberal Party (SLS) has influenced positively on overcoming the division on Thaci’s Serbs and others, labeled by Ivica Dačić. He believes that having more options is good for Serb community’s position after elections, whereas the key questions is which Serbs will get the ministerial posts since, according to him, government is more powerful than the parliament.
“That’s something what Belgrade didn’t apprehend. Now Hashim Thaçi, since he is obviously the one who will make the government, maybe not alone, but he is now in excellent situation to draw out a resume over cooperation with some Serbs and actually prepare the offer which can’t be refused. From that perspective, it becomes clear who will be in the government, it is about some ministers, not all of them, who worked well according to both, international community and the government,” said Janjic and added that he is not expecting total exclusion of Srpska Ticket and Belgrade, at least in the phase of consultations through the mediator – Catherin Ashton.
Janjić explained that one can’t expect that persons who were pushed in Kosovo institutions through local elections become very good partners of Albanians, and to be better partners than those who worked in the parliament and the government.
“But, much will depend on decision of the Serbian government,” said Janjić and added that Belgrade waited for President Nikolić to return from New York. He stressed that power circle which wishes to enter the EU, but wouldn’t like to be at odds with Russia, is the most influential and that continuation of the process of implementation of Brussels agreement suits them.
