Early Serbian election approaches

Source: CCTV.com | 05-11-2008 10:32

Serbia is making final preparations for an early parliamentary election. Sunday's vote is a competition between the nationalist and pro-Western parties over what course Serbia should take in the future.

Polls released ahead of Sunday's vote show the nationalist Radical Party with 34 percent support, just one point ahead of a pro-Western coalition led by President Boris Tadic.

Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's populist bloc is third with 12 percent.

Kostunica forced the early parliamentary elections after a split with pro-Western President Tadic.

They both opposed Kosovo's independence declaration, but differ over their policies toward the European Union.

Tadic's bloc is seeking to continue with efforts to integrate with European Union, while the nationalists want closer ties with Russia.

This issue has gained momentum since the unilateral declaration of independence by Serbia's Kosovo province in February, a move supported by the US and some European countries, but opposed by Russia and Serbia.

Sunday's election may be extended to Kosovo, on the basis of dual citizenship. On Friday, thousands of Kosovo Albanians staged a demonstration in Pristina, protesting against Serbia holding elections there.

Editor:Zhang Ning