Kosovo issue might be reason for elections (Danas)
Obtaining legitimacy and wider citizens’ support for resolution of the Kosovo issue, governing Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and its coalition partners could use as a reason to call for extraordinary parliamentary elections, Danas daily reports.
Such conclusion could be made based on the earlier explanations the government provided to the president, and based on that he would call for the extraordinary elections.
Closure of the internal dialogue on Kosovo could be expected in February or March next year, so one could assume that the conclusions of the internal dialogue, respectively their implementation, would be a basis to ask citizens for a new and full legitimacy in order to start the work. Serbian President Vucic, earlier said that after the closure of the internal dialogue he would announce his proposal for Kosovo.
Speaking on TV Pink, Vucic earlier mentioned two more reasons that could serve as a justification for extraordinary elections. The first one is that the next important elections, parliamentary, presidential and local elections in Belgrade would be held at the same time in 2023. The second reason is that the new government would have four more years for the reforms and preparation of Serbia’s accession to the EU.
Political analyst Boban Stojanovic said he expects extraordinary elections in February or March next year. Stojanovic thinks the reason for such elections is their merging with Belgrade local elections.
“The play with dates is ongoing. One could remember the story about 10th December as a date of Belgrade local elections. I see no point to have parliamentary elections without elections in Belgrade, and there is no legal chance to have them organized in 2017,” Stojanovic said to Danas daily.
General Director of Factor Plus Agency, Vladimir Pejic said that so many combinations and dates were mentioned for elections, but most people, except a few, still do not know when elections would be called for.
“Is it a plan to keep the opposition in uncertainty? We can’t know that. The fact is there are many dates and combinations mentioned and very few people know when and which elections would be held. Whatever date is chosen, I do not think it would significantly impact results of the elections,” Pejic said to Danas daily.