The Serbian President's visit to Russia

A complex pre-election period

In Serbia, there is an electoral campaign for an extraordinary election for the parliament, which will be held on April 24th. Earlier, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic explained the necessity of an early conclusion to negotiations with Brussels on Serbia joining the EU by 2020. Therefore, according to him, they need four years of stability. Passions were fueled by the recent signing of a partnership agreement with NATO, which was ratified by the President of Serbia. The only opposition to this agreement is “Dveri Srpske" and "Democratic Party of Serbia", who formed a coalition, and would form a bloc in parliament. Radical party also against NATO. The other parties are actually controlled by Prime Minister Vucic.

Emergency

Just two days prior, Serbia suffered a flood, and the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations  participated in the response and clean-up. The Russians said that they were ready to send two Il-76 planes and a Bo-105 helicopter from the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, the air-mobile group of the “Leader" Center for high-risk rescue operations, and air-mobile rescue squad "Centrospas", with a mobile hospital and the necessary equipment.

A history of betrayals and manipulations

Until 2008, Nikolic was the deputy head of the Serbian Radical Party led by Vojislav Seselj. After his retirement, he created the Progressive party.

According to reliable insider sources, in the 2008 Serbia presidential elections, Nikolic beat Boris Tadic in the second round, but however, according to an unofficial arrangement, he gifted Tadic victory after certain conditions were met.

The acting Prime Minister of Serbia is also an ex-member of the Radical Party.

There is a semblance of opposition between the president and prime minister of Serbia, but after the ratification of the agreement with NATO by Nikolic, his rating among the patriotic part of the population decreased significantly.

It is likely that his visit to Moscow is an attempt to restore his shaken prestige in the eyes of the Russian leadership, and save face with his fellow citizens.

Related links
After Moscow – has everything suddenly changed for Serbia?
Carrot and stick - a prospective view on Russian strategy in Serbia
Nikolic
Serbia
Russia