Sandzak Takes Sides in Serbia Vote

The campaigning has not been free of incidents, and at the weekend unidentified assailants smashed the windows of a vehicle belonging to a Sandzak Democratic Party, SDP, activist, presumably because it was covered in posters of Serbian President Boris Tadic, who is bidding for a second term.

“Extremists close to Novi Pazar mayor Sulejman Ugljanin have quite obviously embarked on the all-too familiar strategy of spreading fear in an effort to keep their fading leader in the driving seat,” the SDP said in a statement after the attack.

The List for Sandzak coalition, led by Ugljanin, backs Velimir Ilic, the New Serbia leader and a junior partner in the Serbian government coalition, led by Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica.

Other parties, including the SDP, headed by Rasim Ljajic who is Serbia’s Minister of Labour, support Tadic.

Ljajic sees a Tadic win as vital for Serbia’s integration with the European Union, and believes the serving president has the best chance of winning the ballot on January 20.

Observers are not clear what exactly Ilic has promised Ugljanin in return for his support. Whatever it is, Ugljanin’s decision to back Ilic came as a surprise to many of his followers and even his political rivals, regardless of his close ties with the New Serbia leader and Kostunica.

Ugljanin explained his decision by noting the sound cooperation with the Infrastructure Ministry, headed by Ilic, that in his opinion has resulted in the Sandzak’s rapid development.

“We have been fortunate to choose the right partners in the government, and we wish to be a part of their future success,” Ugljanin said in his message of support to Ilic.

Local analysts maintain Ugljanin’s support to Ilic is twofold: on the one hand, he wants to stay close to Ilic’s party, while on the other he needs to keep a distance from the rival SDP which is backing Tadic.

Still, they believe most ethnic Muslims in the Sandzak support Tadic, and predict a comfortable victory for the president in the region as only the most determined Ugljanin supporters are likely to vote for Ilic.

The vast majority of the region’s urban Serbs are seen as Tadic’s voters, while those living in rural areas unequivocally support Tomislav Nikolic, acting leader of the hardline nationalist Radicals.