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.BBC: Serbia election victory for Tadic, Sunday, 3 February 2008.
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. 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. 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.
A re-vote of the second round was held in Dobro Polje due to some irregularities on 12 February 2008. Tadić was sworn in for his second term on 15 February 2008.
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.Pecat na ustav Vecernje novosti Five of the six necessary laws on presidential elections were 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.Albanians likely won't boycott vote B92
Candidates First round CandidatesTomislav Nikolić of SRSSerbian Radical Party, has nominated Tomislav Nikolić (Томислав Николић)Supported by: Vlach Party, Vlachs of Democratic Serbia, Democratic Community of Serbian Vlachs 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 DSDemocratic 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 NSNew 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 CoalitionHungarian 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 LDPLiberal 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 SPSSocialist 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 PSSStrength 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 CandidatesTomislav Nikolić of SRSSerbian 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 DSDemocratic 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. Tadić emphasized Serbia's accession process to the European Union, whereas Nikolić stated that Serbia needed to cooperate with both the EU and Russia. 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." They both shared similar concerns for corruption, poverty, and both candidates told the audience that Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia. However, Nikolić stated in the debate that Kosovo "will declare independence as soon as the presidential election is finished." Just over a month later, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia.
Forecasting Polling FirmDateSourceTadićNikolićJovanovićIlićMrkonjićSecond roundCeSIDJune 20071410 CeSIDearly 20071293 Strategic MarketingOctober 20072418 4 Strategic Marketinglate 2007 38233 Tadić 52 Nikolić 48Angus ReidNovember 7, 200735312 Tadić 56 Nikolić 44Factor Plus12 December 2007 36.531.88.56 CeSID10 January 20081921344Tadić 33 Nikolić 27Glasaj za12 January 200822.429.517.83.616.9CeSID24–28 January 2008Tadić 51.1%, Nikolić 48.9%CeSID30 January 2008Tadić 2.10-2.35 million voters Nikolić 2.00-2.25 million voters
Results
Gallery
International reactions
- Heinz Fischer, President of Austria, congratulated Tadić and stated "I am absolutely convinced that your reelection will strengthen pro-European course of Serbia". Alfred Gusenbauer, Chancellor of Austria, said that "reelection of Boris Tadić is a clear signal that the people of Serbia see their future in the EU".Evropska unija čestita Tadiću B92 Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik praised the re-election of Tadić as a decision to keep moving towards the EU, "The people of Serbia have given a European vote of confidence". - Republika Srpska Prime Minister Milorad Dodik congratulated Tadić by saying that "The victory of Boris Tadić is of great importance for the RS and Serbia. This victory means continuation of cooperation between the two". Nebojša Radmanović, Serb member of the tripartite presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Rajko Kuzmanović, President of Republika Srpska, have congratulated Boris Tadić and stated that he will enjoy the full support of Republika Srpska in his activity. Igor Radojičić, Chairman of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, stated that "people of Serbia have chosen a European course by their determination for future where Serbia will be a country of developed democratic ideas and a key factor of the regional stability". Željko Komšić, President of Bosnia and Herzegovina, expressed his wish that "the victory of Boris Tadić will lead to better relations between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina". - Sergey Stanishev, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, said that "the victory of Boris Tadić over ultra-nationalist opponent is an important signal of the continued, predictable path of Serbia toward its European future." - President Stjepan Mesić congratulated Tadić and stated that "he hopes that two Presidents will work together in bridging problems from the past and will work towards deeper cooperation between two countries in the future". - Mirek Topolánek, Prime Minister of Czech Republic, said that "reelection of President Tadić will directly bring to the stability of the south European region". Karel Schwarzenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, said "President Tadić guarantees further democratic direction of the Serbian nation, which demonstrated its intention to set out on a European course" which makes him glad as "Serbian people have always supported Czech people in tough times". - Per Stig Møller, Foreign Minister of Denmark, stated that "the Serb voters are to be congratulated for this election result, which is good news for Serbia's European prospects, but also likely good news for the EU and all of Europe".