NEW CITY AUTHORITIES ESTABLISHEDNew
city authorities have been established in Belgrade. On
Feb. 21, the Zajedno coalition, which holds 69 out of 110
seats in Belgrade city assembly, formed the new city's
executive council. Democratic Party leader Zoran Djindjic
was elected the mayor of Belgrade, while Spasoje Krunic,
of the Serbian Renewal Movement, became the chairman of
the executive council. Serbian Radical Party MPs strongly
opposed Djindjic's election, and called him a
"thief" and a "German agent." The
Radicals resorted to long discussions in a failed attempt
to complicate matters at the inaugurate session of the
Belgrade council. Djindjic was elected with 68 votes,
while Krunic received 69. Meanwhile, some silent clashes
occurred between the Zajedno partners. Well-informed
sources say the Serbian Renewal Movement leadership was
too late in realizing that the mayor's post represented a
good starting point for one's political future. The
movement is the largest party in the coalition and had
agreed that Djindjic, who had gained much popularity in
the three-month protests, be named the mayor of Belgrade.
Zajedno had also agreed earlier that movement's leader,
Vuk Draskovic, was to be a candidate in the upcoming
elections for Serbia's president. Political analysts in
Belgrade say Draskovic stands almost no chance of winning
the presidential elections.
Copyright © 1997 by Beta News Agency.
|