New right-wing president allays fears over EU chances

Belgrade:  Serbia is likely to get a government with ambitions to join the European Union despite the election of a pro-Russian nationalist as the country's new president, officials said yesterday.

Tomislav Nikolic, a former ultranationalist ally of late Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic, beat incumbent Boris Tadic for Serbia's presidency on Sunday — a result that could slow down the Balkan country's attempts to join the EU and reconcile with wartime foes, including the former province of Kosovo that declared independence in 2008.

"Serbia will not turn away from the European path," Nikolic said in his victory speech.

The state electoral commission said yesterday its near-complete vote count showed Nikolic won 49.5 per cent of the vote against Tadic's 47.3 per cent.

The outcome was a sign of the fading allure of the EU, which is plagued by a debt crisis, and voter discontent with Serbia's weak economy. Tadic is one of many politicians in Europe who have recently lost elections because of the crisis.

Despite the loss, Tadic's Democrats are likely to form a new government with the Socialists, leaving Nikolic without real power as a figurehead president.

Ivica Dacic, the leader of the Socialists, said that the pre-election agreement with the Democrats remains in place regardless of Nikolic's victory.