Defining moments

Well, September doesn't look like it's going to break records on this blog, in terms of entries anyway. Between the sudden increase in workload, starting Serbian class, and a brief sejourn from home Internet connectivity (unpaid bills will do that to you, E said) have made for less than inspired evenings. But all is well here.

Over in Serbian politics, I think September will be a record month however. The implosion of the Radical party alone has the country shocked. Nikolic's split with the Radicals is as shocking as it would be if suddenly Hilary Clinton left the dems and started her own party. The Radicals (SRS) are arguably the single most popular party in Serbia, and the only reason they aren't in power is because no-one wants to coalition with them, and currently the Democrats (DS) have a fairly solid coalition with the Socialists (SPS) and some of the smaller progressive parties (like LDP and G-17).

The fact that Nikolic, who wasn't even the leader of the party, could single handedly tear it in two, virtually overnight, is amazing. Furthermore, he has already established a new party (Forward Serbia) and co-opted a significant portion of the SRS MPs. Its as if he was planning this all along... I have to say, I do find it ironic that the issue that triggered Nikolic's departure was the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) by Serbian Parliament. This issue, a key step in eventual EU integration, should be a no brainer for a nationalist: no way should they support it! But there was support within SRS for signing it, most notably by Nikolic. He even publicly announced the SRS would support it. Then Seselj, calling long distance from Holland, said: au contraire mon ami, SRS will not support this!

Nikolic left the party on the spot, and the SRS MPs boycotted the vote, and Serbian Parliament ratified the SAA. Briliant stuff. As A said, looks like the radicals are just going where the money is. It made me think for a moment, in a way, maybe this is exactly what democracy does, it tempers views, bringing everyone toward the middle. The middle is where the largest pot of votes and cash are.

The other significant event thus far in September are the developments in getting the Serbia's case on Kosovo heard by the ICJ (today the GA added it to their agenda: big score for Vuk!).