Serbians failed for the third time in a year yesterday to elect a president because of low voter turnout, triggering a political crisis in the Balkan republic
Published:
19 November 2003 y., Wednesday
An ultranationalist with close ties to Slobodan Milosevic led the ballot, underlining Serbians' discontent with the pro-Western government that ousted the dictator in 2000 and the republic's drift back to Milosevic's nationalism, which triggered the Balkan wars in the 1990s.
About 39 per cent of registered voters cast ballots, exit polls showed, less than the 50 per cent needed to validate the vote, said the independent Centre for Free Elections and Democracy.
Tomislav Nikolic was ahead with 46.5 per cent of vote, the unofficial results showed. Dragoljub Micunovic, a pro-democracy candidate who led pre-election polls, trailed with only 35 per cent. Four other candidates shared the rest of the vote.
Official results were expected today, but the centre's results have proved reliable in the past.
The failed election left Serbia in a power vacuum.
Parliament was dissolved last week because the pro-Western government lost parliamentary support, leaving no one to call a presidential new vote. New general elections were set for Dec. 28.
Serbia's Vice-Prime Minister Zarko Korac described the election results as a "tragedy for Serbia.''
Šaltinis:
thestar.com
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
Nine nominations for the 2010 Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought have been tabled by EP political groups or groups of over 40 MEPs.
more »
As the primary source of daily noise, pollution and congestion, car traffic relentlessly erodes our health and quality of life.
more »
The European Parliament hosted the 9th Conference of Parliamentarians from the Arctic region from 13-15 September in Brussels.
more »
Get on your (electric) bike! That's the message of some cycling groups who are currently holding an exhibition of electric bikes outside the European Parliament.
more »
Philippine officials search for the mother of a baby, found dumped in a rubbish bin on board a Manila-bound Gulf Air plane.
more »
Millions of Muslims in Bangladesh prepare to celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
more »
The European Parliament has voted to revise legislation on animals used for scientific purposes.
more »
Sausage dogs take to the streets of Cracow in medieval fancy dress to celebrate the 600th anniversary of 'The Battle of Grunwald'.
more »
EU Member States should take positive discrimination measures to improve the lives of older women, including paid leave for carers, says Parliament in a resolution voted on Tuesday.
more »
Tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers gather at Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque to celebrate 'Laylat al-Qadr' - one of the holiest nights of Ramadan.
more »