Battle of the bores in television debate

B92 Radio and Television (Internet Version), Belgrade, Serbia ^ | October 9, 2002 | Unknown

[kosta50]

BELGRADE -- Wednesday – The much-heralded live debate between the two finalists in Serbia’s presidential elections got off to a lacklustre start at 8.00 p.m. this evening.

Both Vojislav Kostunica and Miroljub Labus in their five-minute opening addresses appeared to be treading with great caution.

This has all the signs of two powerful politicians fighting a neck-to-neck battle not to lose any votes, and there is little sign of either laying their neck on the line in an attempt to win them.

Labus opened by praising his opponent, describing him as a colleague and someone of whom he thought highly.

However, he warned, the moderate nationalist Kostunica would be a turn-off for both the local and international political scenes and would cause chaos and disputes.

Kostunica dismissed the warning, presenting himself as a guarantee of balance in political power between the reform-at-all-cost Djindjic Government and the reactionary opposition.

Nor did Kostunica, who is not known for his spontaneity, make any attempt to reciprocate Labus’ praise.

With only 55 per cent voter turnout in the first round, there’s a good chance of the second round of this election failing under electoral rules that require a minimum 50 per cent turnout to validate the result.

With the dull performance of these two candidates in this much-anticipated debate, the television ratings may fare even worse than the election.

[kosta50]

It is amazing with what calm Serbia readily faces a potential constitutional crisis if the second round of the election fails and the elections are annulled.

However, this has been a topic of my personal suspicion [post#36], as well as that of some prominent experts, such as Srdja Trifkovich in a recent article.

These clowns remind me of the politicians of the German Weimar Republic, a pathetic stillborn creation palatbale to the Allies. It was passionless; it was servile; it was impotent; it was anational; it was a humiliation; it was inflationary; it was confused; it was partially occupied (the Ruhr Region); and it was apathetic.

Serbia today is a Weirmar re-incarnate. And neither VK nor Labus will breathe life into this corpse. Letting Serbia get to this stage can only guarantee radicalization that will take the lead when the international situation changes.

[kosta50]

I probably didn't get all of you...hopefully you'll find it

Balkans bump!

---

PS Anyone interested in reading what Srdja Trifkovich had to say (an excellent analysis in its own right), it's on all his Internet page Serbian election

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[Tamodaleko]

what would inspire the Serbs today? (looking for something under their control)

[Voronin]

Thanks for the bump. My prediction is that the most likely outcome will be a Dr.K. victory who will 'invite' Labus to become Minister for Finance (or possibly deputy) after the parliamentary elections (whatever the results). This kind of 'sweet 'n' sour' approach would mean that the West would have to be much more careful in dealing with a Dr.K. gov.

I could of course, be totally wrong...

VRN

[kosta50]

That sounds like a wise political decision. However, judging from the AP report today, even VK fears the voter turnout to be below the required 50%.

With Djindjich actively urging voters to boycott, and with Miloshevich's Socialists officially boycotting the second round, there is a serious chance that the elections will fail.

This remains to be seen. Perhaps the voters will wake up and realize the consequences of not voting and give Serbia a chance.

[kosta50]

what would inspire the Serbs today?

I don't know. They really do not control anything. They can only look at further fragmentation, decentralization, and aimlessness, until a charismatic "vozhd" emerges. Unfortunately, any charismatic leader capable of inspiring a destitude nation is usually not moderate. The world must understand that any radicalization of Serbia is in large part due to the excessive heavyhandedness that was applied. The immature Star Wars mentality of assigning only two shades to everything -- good and evil -- is suitable for fairytales but not for the real world. The reality is usually made up of shades of grey.

[Voronin]

True, though it is too early to know whether AP is anywhere on the mark.

It will be interesting to see what Dr.K's strategy will be for the final vote. If he offered something attractive to the voters (i.e. a clear plan) and make it clear that they would need to support him both as Prez and his party for the next elections...

He could turn Djindic's active campaign to push for a boycott to present him as a 'spoiler', somebody behaving like a child who because they cannot have anything for themselves, then they will certainly not let anyone else have it. Also, on the same theme, he could be presented as somebody who is holding Serbia back from regaining prosperity and the greatest block to the creation of jobs etc. etc. He could use negative campaigning - not voting = leaving power in Djindjic's hands... At least Dr.K seems to have some better political advisers on hand.

Of course, the largest fly in the ointment is the 'West', who have this preponderance to inserting fingers into other peoples pies...

VRN

[kosta50]

Of course, the largest fly in the ointment is the 'West', who have this preponderance to inserting fingers into other peoples pies...

Amen!