Skipping Through Serbia

"Nationalist Tomislav Nikolic wins Serbia vote; Election result could slow effort to join the EU" by Dusan Stojanovic  |  Associated Press, May 21, 2012
BELGRADE, Serbia - Nationalist candidate Tomislav Nikolic won the Serbian presidency Sunday, a result that adds to the political turmoil in the Balkan country and could slow down its attempts to join the European Union....

The outcome was a sign of the fading allure of the EU, which is plagued by a debt crisis, and voter discontent with Serbia’s weak economy.  

Would you buy a ticket on the Titanic after it hit the iceberg?

Nikolic must name a prime minister, but that task has been complicated because of the outcome of the May 6 parliamentary election. Although Nikolic’s Progressive Party won the most seats, Tadic’s Democrats have tentatively agreed on an alliance with Socialists that would give them a majority. Nikolic has claimed the May 6 vote was marred by fraud....

The outcome also could hugely impact Serbia’s plans to become an EU member, a major step for a country that was a pariah state under late autocrat Slobodan Milosevic in the 1990s. It also could determine whether Serbia continues to reconcile with its neighbors and wartime foes.

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Related: Sunday Globe Special: Serbian Scare

Also see: Mladic goes on trial, charged with genocide in Bosnia war

Trial of Serb leader on hold after error

Rabid Ratko