Serbia’s Prime Minister Projected to Win Presidency, Consolidating Control
With Mr. Vucic in the president’s office, Serbia is likely to follow the same domestic
and foreign policy course as during his time as prime minister: enacting the political and economic changes required for membership in the European Union, while simultaneously seeking closer relations with Russia.
Mr. Vucic also positioned himself successfully on foreign policy: seeking good relations with Russia while also leaving no doubt
that Serbia would eventually join the European Union, despite his frequent criticisms of the bloc.
By MATTHEW BRUNWASSERAPRIL 2, 2017
BELGRADE, Serbia — Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic appeared headed toward a first-round victory in Serbia’s presidential election
on Sunday, winning more than 50 percent of the vote among a field of 11 candidates, according to exit polls and early results.
Mr. Vucic, by far the most popular political leader in the country, will choose his successor as prime minister, most likely a pliant one,
and he is expected to exercise unchallenged control over all of the country’s main political institutions: Parliament, the executive branch, the ruling party and now the presidency.
Observers view Mr. Vucic’s consolidation of power as a product of this drive for stability
that has shaped the politics of the western Balkans over the last decade, as Western governments choose to engage with strong leaders rather than work to strengthen democratic institutions.
"And we don’t like Europe, but we want to be part of Europe." Support for European Union membership has fallen
to 47 percent, according to a poll in December by the government-run Serbian European Integration Office.
