SERBIA: Leading opposition politician Tomislav Nikolic talks about his decision to go on hunger strike until the government agrees to early elections

Record ID: 339820

  • Title: SERBIA: Leading opposition politician Tomislav Nikolic talks about his decision to go on hunger strike until the government agrees to early elections
  • Date: 17th April 2011
  • Summary: BELGRADE, SERBIA (APRIL 16, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF SERBIAN PARLIAMENT BUILDING POLICE CAR WITH FLASHING LIGHTS SCAFFOLDING ON PARLIAMENT LEADER OF SERBIAN PROGRESSIVE PARTY, TOMISLAV NIKOLIC, TALKING TO HIS WIFE, DRAGICA DRAGICA NIKOLIC MEMBERS OD SERBIAN PROGRESSIVE PARTY SITTING IN PARTY OFFICES INSIDE PARLIAMENT (SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) LEADER OF SERBIAN PROGR
  • Embargoed: 2nd May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Serbia, Serbia
  • Country: Serbia
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA643958EK91FG670UBZEQR5JGQ
  • Story Text: Serbia's leading opposition politician told at least 50,000 protesters on Saturday (April 16) he would go on hunger strike until the government agreed to early elections in the Balkan country.
    After the rally, Nikolic went into the Serbian parliament building with his wife and party members.
    Nikolic and his party have stepped up calls for early elections in recent weeks. Voting is currently due to take place in early 2012.
    "We haven't been stubborn, we demanded elections in June, October, then November, so now for December. It's very strange that he [referring to Serbian president Boris Tadic] can not accept anything, he does not feel how much the citizens of Serbia are unsatisfied with what he and his government have been doing, and how little sparkle is needed to lead into chaos and madness, and how much credit the Serbian progressive party deserves for controlling and almost sending appeals to citizens to accept even this regime peacefully," Nikolic told Reuters Television.
    Nikolic is determined to stay on hunger strike until Serbian President Boris Tadic calls early elections.
    "I gave up completely to convince President Boris Tadic what he should do, I leave him with his life, with his destiny, to his conscience to his sleepless nights, let him think whether this should happen in this way, or it could have been differently."
    Tadic has said it was not possible to fix an election date until Serbia became an EU membership candidate, a status it hopes to obtain later this year.
    Party members and Nikolic's family will stay with him during the night and days ahead.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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