BALKAN CRISIS: ELECTIONS MAY HELP SERBIAN PRESIDENT

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005451469
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: August 25, 2010
• Case Number: F-2009-00733
• Publication Date: November 2, 1992

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 BALKAN CRISIS: Elections May Help Serbian President
Supporters of Serbian President Milosevic reportedly will try again to
bring down federal Prime Minister Panic's government in a confidence
vote today. Elections n gthen Milosevic's position
over his federal rivals.
Serbian hardliners reportedly have enough votes in the Federal
Assembly's lower house to remove Panic, but Montenegrin delegates
in the upper house who support the Prime Minister could block his
removal. Meanwhile, federal President Cosic has set federal elections
for 20 December in hopes of getting international sanctions removed
and taking advantage of Milosevic's declining popularity; Serbian
leaders reportedly will hold republic elections the same day
Recent polls indicate that the two federal leaders have more support
in Serbia than Milosevic, but he
democratic opposition is still unprepared to challenge Milosevic
and his Socialist Party seriously; opposition leaders reportedly are
considering boycotting the elections. Moreover, Panic has indicated
he may not run, even though he hopes to remain prime minister.
Comment: The Serbian President's party probably will remain the
strongest in the Assembly, and no democratic opposition leader has
announced a willingness to challenge him for the presidency. In
addition, Milosevic's apparent decision to hold elections in the midst
of the current crisis probably will bolster his legitimacy and might
provide a pretext for some countries to propose easing sanctions.