Irreconcilableness of Democratic Party of Serbia and Democratic Party
Political Skirmishing with "Live Ammunition"
Discontented with the division in which Kostunica has honour and Djindjic has power, Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) first demanded reconstruction of the Government, and when that demand was flatly rejected, it took an oppositionist stand accusing the government that it had done nothing to suppress corruption and crime. No evidence was offered.
AIM Belgrade, September 3, 2001
The structures formed behind the two main Serbian leaders, Vojislav Kostunica and Zoran Djindjic, replaced "blind cartridges" in their skirmishes with "live ammunition". The conflict flared up to the extent when the question that arises is whether the reasons for which Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) was established have been used up, which leads to the conclusion that it will dissolve soon. President of the political council of DSS Aleksandar Popovic, in case of an affirmative answer to the existing dilemma, answers that the way out is in the elections which this party headed by Kostunica has been advocating for a long time.
On the other hand, in the Democratic Party headed by Zoran Djindjic it is estimated that scheduling elections at this moment would lead to the postponement of reforms Serbian government has initiated and that destabilised political conditions would discourage donors and possible investors to assist economic reconstruction of Serbia. This fact contributed to relieving of political tensions, but so did the fact that overthrowing of Djindjic's government could be effectuated only with open support of the Socialists and the Radicals which is not good for DSS. Advocating of new elections also died down, because the people in DSS realised that the initiative for the elections was premature.
Democratic Party of Serbia decided not to participate in the work of the Government of Serbia. It took the role of the opposition to Djindjic's cabinet and within DOS itself. Kostunica's Democrats do not have the strength to actually dissolve DOS nor to overthrow the current Serbian Government, but the resoluteness of DSS to fight for greater participation in executing power remains. In the division of posts its leaders Vojislav Kostunica and Dragan Marsicanin got prominent positions. The former is the President of Yugoslavia, and the latter Chairman of the Assembly of Serbia, but both posts bring more honour than they actually give power. Discontented with the division in which Kostunica has honour and Djindjic has power, DSS first demanded reconstruction of the Government, and when that demand was flatly rejected, it took an oppositionist stand accusing the government that it had done nothing to suppress corruption and crime. No evidence was offered.
Both phenomena are an illustration of everyday life in Serbia which has become a country with the highest corruption rate, and they have been chosen as an accusation of the government because it is easiest to appeal to the citizens with them. The leaders of the two biggest parties have exchanged strong language concerning corruption and crime, but setting up of the fire is mostly the result of the doing of their advisors who strained their mutual relations to such an extent that accusations, insults and antagonism acquired proportions that cause concern. The prevailing problems in Serbia, as certain experts for social and economic issues estimate, are the result of the evident effort of political clerks of the two leading parties to take over the main role in the control of political and economic life in Serbia. An attempt is evident of the newly created political bureaucracy to take over firm control of state affairs.
They are greatly assisted by media which uncritically carry their statements revealing a great deal like mini skirts, but not all. The benefit is mutual. The ones are given great publicity for acquiring greater prestige and the others count on increasing circulation or ratings in this way. The well informed claim that a considerable number of young politicians have their own headquarters where strategies are elaborated for their breakthrough into the very top of political life.
However the ambition of young politicians in the race for successful careers on the political scene of Serbia which has after dismantling of Milosevic's regime become a virgin soil, according to the assessment of analysts of political developments, is not the only reason why Serbia resembles a country of mixed up concepts due to which Momcilo Perisic, President of the Movement for Democratic Serbia (PDS), warns against the danger of anarchy, and Nebojsa Covic, President of Democratic Alternative (DA), expresses fear that the ruling coalition may make the impression in public of immature authorities which are not capable of coping with the job entrusted to them. Dragoljub Micunovic, President of Democratic Centre (DC), who is believed to have the main role in preventing the two key leaders from starting an open conflict, draws attention to the fact that politics and economy have become too close and that this conceals great danger.
Opinions are frequently heard that businessmen control politicians, and in order to corroborate this it is stated that financing of political parties is not regulated by law, so they are supported by donors unknown to the public. That businessmen are not sitting on their hands was best illustrated by the Law on taxing extra property. Many economists sided with the businessmen even to the extent that they proclaimed that this Law was an act of violence of the people against successful people. Lobbying has become a profitable business in Serbia.
Statements of some politicians which arrived one after the other caused confusion in public and a muddle in the heads of the citizens more than the summer heat. The Prime Minister of Serbia appalled the public with the statement given on his birthday to TV spectators that if something was useful it need not necessarily be lawful, which reminded older ones of the time of communism when “useful misappropriation” as flouting regulations was called at the time was a widespread practice.
Similar was the sense of the statement of his minister in charge of education Gaso Knezevic who admitted that there had been irregularities during enrollment into secondary schools, but that nobody would be punished for them which the public interpreted as a sign that this minister and therefrom the Government itself did not consider irregularities in carrying out public duties a reason for penalties, because they are not bothered by them. Even the President of the federal state Vojislav Kostunica who is believed to be an unwavering guardian of legality is not spared because in ten months in office he has done nothing to eliminate the amendments by which the Constitution of the country was practically forcibly changed by Milosevic and which destroyed the last bridge for the return of majority political power of Montenegro to federal institutions.
The list of “differences” was enriched by Yugoslav ambassador in the USA Milan St. Protic who declared that he had no intention to act according to anybody's suggestions in carrying out his duties because he had never obeyed even his parents so why should he have to act according to the orders of state institutions. Only after Protic had been discharged because of his declarations, ambassador Vesna Pesic sent a message all the way from Mexico appealing on Kostunica and Djindjic to come to their senses and in the interest of the state to bury the hatchet. The post of the future ambassador in the USA could be a new cause for disagreements in the ruling coalition. Goran Svilanovic, foreign minister, said that there were two candidates, and the names mentioned by the public are that of Stojan Cerovic, journalist of Vreme weekly who is close to the Civil Alliance of Serbia (GSS) and that of Bojana Lekic, until recently the editor-in-chief of TV B92 who is allegedly favoured by DSS.
Mutual accusations of the men in power are the result of their obvious discontent with the distribution of posts and the amount of power they bring. However, the announced strikes of metal workers, teachers, warning of the miners from Kolubara who gave the largest contribution to overthrowing Milosevic, could turn all this political skirmishing into something greater than “mixed up concepts”. Growing social discontent could bring about the end of this administration, which would remove Serbia away from its intention to reach Europe for a long time.
Ratomir Petkovic
(AIM)