Anti-independence candidates in second round of Serbian presidentials
Two leading Serbian presidential candidates opposed to Kosovo’s independence – incumbent president Boris Tadic and opposition leader Tomislav Nikolic – have entered the second round of elections scheduled for February 3, while the only candidate to support Kosovo’s secession – Cedomir Jovanovic – finished just fifth with 5 percent of the votes.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Monday, January 21, 2008
Nikolic, the leader of the Serbian Radical Party, obtained 39 percent of the votes in a ballot marked by an exceptionally high participation of 61 percent - which analysts attributed to a large extent to the Kosovo status crisis.
Tadic, the co-president of the Serbian negotiations team with Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, obtained 35 percent.
Two other major anti-independence candidates - Velimir Ilic and Milutin Mrkonjic - obtained 8 and 6 percent respectively.
Jovanovic's fifth place will be seen as a major setback for supporters of Kosovo's independence, as the 95-5 proportion of Serbian votes against independence was confirmed.
Prime Minister Kostunica is now largely seen as the kingmaker, the person whose support in the second round will determine the winner of the elections.
