Mr. Panic

Some new statistics show that the former federal prime minister Milan Panic would beat the former Slobodan Milosevic if Yugoslav presidential elections were to be held today. As things now stand, there won’t be any elections and the Yugoslav Parliament will delegate Milosevic to Lilic’s chair. Therefore, the Montenegrins won’t allow any changes to be made in the constitution. If the Socialists of the two republics still got along as they had previously, they could have changed the constitution overnight. Now it’s highly uncertain.

The Socialists of Serbia ask that only two articles from the constitution be changed. That would enable the President of Yugoslavia to be elected directly, i.e. to be elected by all Yugoslav citizens with a right to vote by a secret ballot. Milosevic is obviously in dire need of a base which would enable him to truly rule. Taking into account the specific characteristics of the two-member federation, that presents a fundamental change in the constitution. For example, how could a Montenegrin candidate whose electoral body is no larger than the electoral body of two Belgrade municipalities, become the President of Yugoslavia? All right, Milosevic is Montenegrin as well; however, what we are talking about is a political rather than a genetic representative. Therefore, Panic doesn’t stand a chance, since there won’t be any Yugoslav presidential elections. Whoever ordered a public opinion research survey got a clear answer: Panic is a better candidate for the President of Serbia than, let’s say, Vuk Draskovic. However, I can guarantee one thing: Milan Panic has only one strong motive, which is - an electoral victory over Milosevic. However, the arrow has been shot and the message has been sent: it should be interpreted by Panic, Seselj, Draskovic…all the candidates for the President of Serbia. Milosevic has nothing to do with that message anymore, since he is shortly to become Lilic.

P.S. The headline of my previous article published in the same column was "Hello". My colleagues from the editorial office warned me that I am not living the editorial life, and ever since the telephone company has been sold to the Italians, everyone says "Pronto".