2008 Serbian presidential election explained

Country:Serbia
Flag Year:2004
Type:presidential
Previous Election:2004 Serbian presidential election
Previous Year:2004
Next Election:2012 Serbian presidential election
Next Year:2012
Election Date:January 20, 2008 (first round)
February 3, 2008 (second round)
Turnout:68.12% (19.77 pp)
Image1:Boris Tadic, President of Serbia.jpg
Candidate1:Boris Tadić
Party1:Democratic Party (Serbia)
Popular Vote1:2,304,467
Percentage1:51.19%
Candidate2:Tomislav Nikolić
Party2:Serbian Radical Party
Popular Vote2:2,197,155
Percentage2:48.81%
Map Size:257px
President
Before Election:Boris Tadić
Before Party:Democratic Party (Serbia)
After Election:Boris Tadić
After Party:Democratic Party (Serbia)

Presidential elections were held in Serbia on January 20 and February 3, 2008. Incumbent President Boris Tadić was re-elected as president in the second round with 51% of the vote, defeating challenger Tomislav Nikolić.[1]

The elections for president were the first since Serbia became independent, when the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro was dissolved by the secession of Montenegro in 2006. The first round of elections was held on January 20, 2008, when none of the candidates secured an absolute majority of the votes cast. Thus a run-off election took place on February 3, 2008 between Tomislav Nikolić of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) and Boris Tadić of the Democratic Party (DS) (the incumbent President) who finished first and second respectively in the first round.[2] 6,708,697 registered voters were able to vote, which was around 50,000 more since the parliamentary election held in the beginning of 2007, on 8,481 electoral posts across Serbia and 65 in 36 foreign countries.[3] Of that figure, 37,053 are abroad, 9,187 in military service and 8,201 in prison. Persons residing in Montenegro with Serbian citizenship were also allowed to vote in seven Montenegrin towns: Podgorica, Berane, Herceg Novi, Budva, Tivat, Sutomore and Andrijevica.[4]

A re-vote of the second round was held in Dobro Polje due to some irregularities on 12 February 2008.[5] Tadić was sworn in for his second term on 15 February 2008.[6]

Background

The previous session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia adopted a Constitutional Law on 10 November 2006 that proclaimed the new Constitution. As per it, parliamentary Speaker Oliver Dulić was to schedule the election by 31 December 2007 or 60 days after the new laws regarding the President of the Republic, presidential elections, defense, the military, foreign affairs and the security services are passed.[7] Five of the six necessary laws on presidential elections was passed by the parliamentary majority on 11 December 2007.

On 12 December 2007 Dulić had scheduled the first round of election for January 20 and second round for February 3, 2008. The Electoral Commission of the Republic of Serbia declared that candidates were due to apply on December 30, 2007 the latest, submitting 10,000 signatures.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Commonwealth of Independent States were the nationwide neutral observer of the election, including several British and American observers.

Two parties representing the Albanians from Preševo Valley, the Democratic Union of the Valley and the Party of Democratic Action called for Albanians from outside Kosovo to participate in the election.[8]

Candidates

First round

Candidates

Tomislav Nikolić of SRS
Serbian Radical Party, has nominated Tomislav Nikolić (Томислав Николић)
Supported by: Vlach Party, Vlachs of Democratic Serbia, Democratic Community of Serbian Vlachs[9] and Movement "I live for the Frontier"
Slogan: With All Heart (Свим срцем)
Jugoslav Dobričanin of RSReformist Party, has nominated Jugoslav Dobričanin (Југослав Добричанин).
Slogan: Power of the south (Снага југа)

Boris Tadić of DS
Democratic Party has nominated Boris Tadić (Борис Тадић), current President of Serbia.
Supported by: G17 Plus, League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina, Sanjak Democratic Party, Civic Initiative of Gora, Roma Union of Serbia, Reformists of Vojvodina, Serbian List for Kosovo and Metohija.
Slogan: For a Strong and Stable Serbia (За јаку и стабилну Србију)

Velimir Ilić of NS

New Serbia, has nominated Velimir "Velja" Ilić (Велимир "Веља" Илић).
Supported by: Democratic Party of Serbia, United Serbia, Serbian Renewal Movement and List for Sandžak.
Slogan: Serbia rules! (Србија је закон
); Choose Serbia! (Изабери Србију)

István Pásztor of Hungarian Coalition

Hungarian Coalition (Magyar Koalíció - Mađarska koalicija) (Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians, Democratic Fellowship of Vojvodina Hungarians, Democratic Party of Vojvodina Hungarians and Hungarian Civic Alliance), has nominated István Pásztor. Pásztor is supported by the Montenegrin Society of Serbia "The Crusader". He has announced his support for Boris Tadić in the second round.
Slogan: Za Srbiju u kojoj je svima nama dobro! - Olyan Szerbiáért, ahol nekünk is jó
Marijan Rističević of NSSCoalition People's Peasant Party - United Peasant Party, has nominated Marijan Rističević (Маријан Ристичевић).

Čedomir Jovanović of LDP
Liberal Democratic Party, has nominated Čedomir "Čeda" Jovanović (Чедомир "Чеда" Јовановић).
Supported by: Social Democratic Union, Christian Democratic Party of Serbia, Croatian Bunjevac-Šokac Party and Vojvodina Party.
Slogan: Life rules! (Живот је закон
)

Milutin Mrkonjić of SPS

Socialist Party of Serbia, has nominated Milutin Mrkonjić (Милутин Мркоњић).
Supported by: Party of United Pensioners of Serbia.
Slogan: Achievements speak for themselves (Дела говоре);Our Comrade! (Наш друг
)
Milanka Karić of PSS
Strength of Serbia Movement - Bogoljub Karić, has nominated Milanka Mara Karić (Миланка Мара Карић) after failed attempt to nominate her husband and party leader Bogoljub Karić, who is under arrest warrant.
Slogan: Family is the strength of Serbia (Породица је снага Србије.)

Second round

Candidates

Tomislav Nikolić of SRS
Serbian Radical Party has nominated Tomislav Nikolić (Томислав Николић)
Supported by: Vlach Party, Vlachs of Democratic Serbia, Democratic Community of Serbian Vlachs, Yugoslav Left, Democratic Community of Serbia, People's Peasant Party, United Peasant Party, New Communist Party of Yugoslavia, National Movement Serbia, Serbian Party of Socialists, Nacionalni stroj, Serbian National Council of North Kosovo, Movement "I live for the Frontier"
Slogan: With All Heart (Свим срцем)

Boris Tadić of DS


Democratic Party has nominated Boris Tadić (Борис Тадић), current President of Serbia.
Supported by: G17 Plus, League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina, Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians, Democratic Fellowship of Vojvodina Hungarians, Democratic Party of Vojvodina Hungarians, Hungarian Civic Alliance, Sanjak Democratic Party, List for Sanjak, Civic Initiative of Gora, Roma Union of Serbia, Democratic League of Croats in Vojvodina, Reformists of Vojvodina, Democratic Union of Croats, Democratic Movement of Serbian Romanians, Serbian List for Kosovo and Metohija, European Movement of Serbia, Serbian Renewal Movement, Vojvodina Party, Independent Democratic Serbian Party, Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, Democratic Party of Bulgarians, Union of Socialists of Vojvodina, Social Democratic Party, Democratic Party of Serbs Green party Eko, National Movement of Sandžak, Association of Free and Independent Trade Unions, Federation of Nongovernmental Organizations of Serbia, Coalition "Together for Kragujevac", Serbian National Council of Kosovo and Metohija and National Councils of Slovak, Roma, Macedonian, Romanian and Rusyn national minorities.
Slogan: Let's conquer Europe together! (Да освојимо Европу заједно

)

Campaign and issues

After it was determined that the two-candidate runoff would consist of Tadić and Nikolić, the period after the first round voting converged on Serbia's accession to the European Union, the status of Kosovo in Serbia's constitution, and various social issues.

On January 30, 2008, Tadić and Nikolić participated in a televised debate conducted by RTS.[10] Tadić emphasized Serbia's accession process to the European Union, whereas Nikolić stated that Serbia needed to cooperate with both the EU and Russia.[10] Tadić and Nikolić exchanged accusations on each of their own stances regarding the European Union. Tadić criticized Nikolić's Serbian Radical Party for its eurosceptic history, after which Nikolić said that "Serbia will never be a Russian governorate, but also never a European colony."[10] They both shared similar concerns for corruption, poverty, and both candidates told the audience that Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia.[10] However, Nikolić stated in the debate that Kosovo "will declare independence as soon as the presidential election is finished."[10] Just over a month later, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia.

Forecasting

width=10%Polling Firmwidth=12%Datewidth=5%SourceTadićNikolićJovanovićIlićMrkonjićSecond round
CeSIDJune 2007[11] 1410
CeSIDearly 2007[12] 1293
Strategic MarketingOctober 2007[13] 24184
Strategic Marketinglate 200738233Tadić 52 Nikolić 48
Angus ReidNovember 7, 2007[14] 35312Tadić 56 Nikolić 44
Factor Plus12 December 200736.531.88.56
CeSID10 January 2008[15] 1921344Tadić 33 Nikolić 27
Glasaj za12 January 2008[16] 22.429.517.83.616.9
CeSID24–28 January 2008[17] Tadić 51.1%, Nikolić 48.9%
CeSID30 January 2008[18] Tadić 2.10-2.35 million voters Nikolić 2.00-2.25 million voters

International reactions

Notes and References

  1. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7225455.stm BBC: Serbia election victory for Tadic
  2. News: Serbian key presidential elections set for Jan. 20. International Herald Tribune. 2007-12-12. 2007-12-12.
  3. Web site: News - Politics - RIK changes voter tally . B92 . 2008-01-15 . 2009-06-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606223601/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=01&dd=15&nav_id=46939 . 2011-06-06 .
  4. News: Birališta u sedam gradova. Vijesti. 2008-01-20. 2008-01-20.
  5. Web site: News - Politics - Repeat voting in Dobro Polje begins . B92 . 2008-02-12 . 2009-06-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080213095131/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=02&dd=12&nav_id=47650 . 2008-02-13 .
  6. Web site: News - Politics - Tadić: Frozen conflict, diplomatic ties in place . B92 . 2008-02-15 . 2009-06-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606230059/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=02&dd=15&nav_id=47731 . 2011-06-06 .
  7. http://www.novosti.rs/code/navigate.php?Id=1&status=jedna&vest=96098&datum=2006-09-30 Pecat na ustav
  8. http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2007&mm=12&dd=25&nav_id=46459Valley Albanians likely won't boycott vote
  9. Web site: Vesti - Nikolić predviđa drugi krug - Internet, Radio i TV stanica; najnovije vesti iz Srbije . B92 . 2009-06-13.
  10. Web site: Mondo: TV duel: Tadić i Nikolić obećali bolji život. sr. January 30, 2008. July 5, 2017.
  11. Web site: Archived copy . 2007-09-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110605082215/http://www.cesid.org/articles/download/files/saopstenje%20za%20javnost.doc?id=52 . 2011-06-05 . dead .
  12. Web site: News - Politics - Poll: Serbians put Kosovo before EU . B92 . 2007-10-03 . 2009-06-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606214614/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2007&mm=10&dd=03&nav_category=93&nav_id=44258 . 2011-06-06 .
  13. Web site: Blic Online | Politika | Polovina birača protiv odlaganja predsedničkih izbora . https://archive.today/20120731163254/http://www.blic.co.rs/politika.php?id=17100 . dead . 2012-07-31 . Blic.co.rs . 2007-10-23 . 2009-06-13 .
  14. Web site: Serbians Would Grant Second Term to Tadic: Angus Reid Global Monitor . Angus-reid.com . 2007-11-07 . 2009-06-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080405211754/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/28892/serbians_would_grant_second_term_to_tadic . 2008-04-05 .
  15. Web site: Blic Online | Politika | Tadić pobeđuje u drugom krugu . https://archive.today/20120721022854/http://www.blic.co.rs/politika.php?id=26181 . dead . 2012-07-21 . Blic.co.rs . 2009-06-13 .
  16. Web site: Poznati o kandidatima. January 12, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080108083426/http://www.glasajza.org/public.asp . January 8, 2008 .
  17. Web site: No Favourite Emerges in Serbia's Run-Off: Angus Reid Global Monitor . https://archive.today/20120720044315/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/29757/no_favourite_emerges_in_serbias_run_off . dead . 2012-07-20 . Angus-reid.com . 2009-06-13 .
  18. Web site: News - Politics - Latest polls give Tadić slight lead . B92 . 2008-01-30 . 2009-06-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080207145610/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=01&dd=30&nav_id=47342 . 2008-02-07 .
  19. Web site: Evropski i svetski zvaničnici pozdravili pobedu Tadića . Boristadic.org . 2009-06-13.
  20. http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2008&mm=02&dd=04&nav_category=418&nav_id=283431 Evropska unija čestita Tadiću
  21. Web site: James Wray and Ulf Stabe . Tadic re-election unanimously hailed by Europe . News.monstersandcritics.com . 2008-02-04 . 2009-06-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080405192145/http://news.monstersandcritics.com/europe/news/article_1389817.php/Tadic_re-election_unanimously_hailed_by_Europe__Roundup_ . 2008-04-05 .
  22. Web site: Dodik hails Tadić triumph . B92.net . 2008-02-04 . 2009-06-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080405205009/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/region-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=02&dd=04&nav_id=47454 . 2008-04-05 .
  23. Web site: Čestitke Tadiću i od državnika iz regiona . Boristadic.org . 2009-06-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080209154126/http://www.boristadic.org/index.php?stranica=kom_clanak&naredba=lista&id=&br_stranice=3&sortiranje=&&nadredjena=20&id_kategorija=24#opsirnije__306 . 2008-02-09 . dead .
  24. Web site: Predsjednik Mesić uputio čestitku Borisu Tadiću . Predsjednik.hr . 2009-06-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080209195145/http://www.predsjednik.hr/default.asp?ru=1&gl=200802040000008&sid=&jezik=1 . 2008-02-09.
  25. http://www.rts.rs/jedna_vest.asp?IDNews=213616 Kanerva i Jeremić za ostanak misije OEBS na Kosovu
  26. Web site: The Earthtimes . Tadic re-election unanimously hailed by Europe . Earthtimes.org . 2008-02-04 . 2009-06-13.
  27. Web site: Čestitke Tadiću iz regiona . B92.net . 2009-06-13.
  28. Web site: The Earthtimes . Nordic politicians welcome Tadic's re-election . Earthtimes.org . 2008-02-04 . 2009-06-13.
  29. Web site: Čestitka predsednika RF Vladimira Putina . Boristadic.org . 2009-06-13.
  30. Web site: Mironov žali zbog poraza Nikolića . Mtsmondo.com . 2009-06-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080616090736/http://www.mtsmondo.com/izbori08/text.php?vest=85926 . 2008-06-16 .
  31. http://www.sktoday.com/content/1177_gasparovic-congratulates-tadic-re-election-president-serbia Gasparovic Congratulates Tadic on Re-election
  32. Web site: Slovenia congratulates Tadić on victory . B92.net . 2008-02-04 . 2009-06-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080405202710/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=02&dd=04&nav_id=47453 . 2008-04-05 .
  33. Web site: Britanski premijer čestitao predsedniku Tadiću . 2012-07-28 . https://archive.today/20120728214657/http://www.ds.org.rs/sr/index.php . 2012-07-28 . dead .
  34. Web site: Gollust . David . US Congratulates Serbia's Tadic on Re-Election Victory . Voanews.com . 2009-06-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080309053630/http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-02-04-voa45.cfm . 2008-03-09 .