Serbia to try again to elect a president

A third attempt in less than a year to get Serbian voters to elect a Serbian president is to be made in November.

The fresh attempt comes despite two elections that failed last year because less than half of the electorate voted.

Under Serbia’s election laws, more than 50% of eligible voters must take part in order for an election to be valid.

Political analysts have predicted that November 16’s election could also fail because of a widespread apathy among the Serbs, who are disappointed by allegations of government corruption and constant bickering among leaders.

Parliament speaker Natasa Micic, who also serves as acting president, insisted that people had a right to an election even if it fails once again.

Key opposition parties, including former president Vojislav Kostunica’s Democratic Party of Serbia and former presidential candidate Miroslav Labus’ G-17, have indicated they might boycott the presidential vote.

If they carry out their threat, it could open the way for a strong showing by extreme nationalists and former President Slobodan Milosevic’s Socialists.