WITH most of the votes from Serbia’s general election on April 24th counted, it is clear that Aleksandar Vucic, the prime minister (pictured), has won another four-year term. From Brussels and other Western capitals, congratulations have been rolling in. Mr Vucic’s foreign partners want nothing more than stability in the Balkans, and Mr Vucic can deliver it. Whether he can deliver growth, or help develop Serbia’s flawed democracy into a transparent and competitive one, is more doubtful.
Mr Vucic called the election two years earlier than necessary, and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) party won roughly half of the vote, as it did two years ago. Because more parties will enter parliament this time, the SNS will have at least 20 fewer seats, though still a majority in the 250-seat chamber. The Socialists came second with 11%, while the radical nationalists of Vojislav Seselj, who failed in 2014 to clear the minimum for representation in parliament, will now be the third-largest party, with almost 8%.
Mr Seselj’s return to parliament is the second bit of good news he has received this month. On March 31st he was acquitted on...Continue reading
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