Tadic Steps Up His Campaign As The Presidential Caravan Rolls Into London
Serbian President Boris Tadić is in London as part of an international charm offensive to secure backing for Serbia’s EU ascension hopes and to improve investment links with his country. During his three day visit, Tadić will hold talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron, Foreign Secretary William Hague and meet with business leaders from the City.
The Serbian diaspora will also be targeted with an Embassy reception, with Tadić well aware of the mistrust and frustration that many Serbs feel after his years at the helm. The President’s detractors are questioning the coalition’s achievements and, increasingly, they are wondering aloud about the rationale and intentions behind certain unpopular moves that could appear to appease foreign interests more than they track the mood on the home front.
Even now, with Greece and Italy tottering on the verge of economic meltdown and the Eurozone threatening to implode, it will be another five months before the President and his government present their financial survival strategy.
At face value, such a delay is questionable. The world’s economic woes have not come from out of the blue and Tadić has had both time and remit to come up with solutions suited to his country’s needs. But look five months down the line and the chosen timing becomes more relevant: The Tadić plan will be shared with the country just in time for the final burst of vote winning in the Spring election.It remains to be seen whether this election tactic timed to maximise his appeal to voters will be viewed as a rescue package or if it will be too little, too late to save his hide.
The President recently seemed to acknowledge the dissatisfaction felt at home with a speech aimed at taking the wind out of the sails of protesters who have called for a boycott of the national election, next Spring. Political apathy is a serious concern in Serbia, as many people feel increasingly disenfranchised and believe that their vote holds little value. “Blank votes lead to bitterness and bitterness has never put bread on anyone’s table, paid electricity bills or brought a better salary,’ he said. “I tell those citizens who call on others not to go to the elections that bitterness does not lead anywhere.”
While many recognise the advances made by Tadić and his government in digging the country out of the post-Milosević quagmire, there is widespread frustration at the pace of progress. A key complaint is Tadić’s apparently ineffectual efforts to stamp out the corruption that remains rife in Serbia. He has made moves in the right direction but, as corruption is believed to be ingrained so deeply, it would take a concerted effort at all levels to make such fundamental changes. Where there is a will, there is a way. But only if there is a will.
For months politicians and would-be leaders in various government bodies have been strategically positioning themselves for the Spring election. Like chess grand masters, they have been playing the long game, calculating the maximum impact of every action to attract the most votes. Even the recent ban on the Belgrade Pride Parade and the subsequent media comments made by so many unrelated politicos was seen by many as a vote-winning move by certain figures who knew that their words would ring in the ears of key groups whose supported they valued.
Kosovo and the EU continue to dominate commentary on the government’s policy, with neither likely to go away before next year’s election. Tadić continues to give every indication that he remains pro-European in his outlook and he is investing great effort in sweet-talking his EU counterparts. But the current Eurozone shambles can only add weight to Serbia’s anti-EU lobby. While the future of the Euro is uncertain and a two-tier Europe is on the cards now more than ever, most acknowledge that the European Union will remain a viable trading bloc after the smoke has cleared.
Whether Serbia will be part of this rejigged structure remains in question. What is not in doubt is that Serbia can benefit from a strong trading relationship with its EU neighbours and Serbian business is moving ahead with opportunities to work closer with EU partners.
The recent increase in trade delegations traveling between Serbia and the UK and the meetings planned for Tadić bear testament to the strategic stance being taken by Serbia, and trade fairs have seen Serbia clamouring to improve business investment between the EU and Serbia. This visit to London by Tadić and his team of advisors will further cement recent advances made in this direction.
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