Serbian President Boris Tadic signed documents yesterday in Belgrade to dissolve the parliament and called for early legislative elections for May 11.

By Ellie Tzortzi - Reuters

BELGRADE – Serbian President Boris Tadic disbanded parliament yesterday and called a May 11 general election that could decide whether Serbia pursues a place in the European Union or cuts itself off from the bloc.

The 10-month-old coalition collapsed at the weekend, with nationalist Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica blaming deep differences with pro-Western liberals over EU membership and Kosovo, whose secession from Serbia has been backed by the EU.

“The election is a democratic way for citizens to say how Serbia should develop in the years to come,” said pro-Western Tadic, announcing what is widely seen as Serbia’s most important vote since the fall of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.

Tadic, also head of the pro-Western Democratic Party, appealed for “a fair campaign” in a peaceful atmosphere so that Serbia gets stable and efficient institutions.

The election will be a close race between Tadic’s Democrats and the nationalist Radicals, Serbia’s strongest party, who are seen to have gained further due to Serb bitterness over Western backing for Kosovo’s secession last month.

“May 11 will be when we determine the path that Serbia takes,” said Deputy PM Bozidar Djelic of the Democrats. “We need new enthusiasm and a clearly determined path toward the EU.” The Radicals are expected to focus their campaign on Kosovo, the benefits of close ties to non-Western powers, such as Russia, and the failure of eight years’ worth of pro-Western governments to deliver on their promises of a better life.

The forecast is that neither grouping will get more than 45 percent, producing a hung parliament. Kostunica, who appears to have lost voters to both rival blocs and has just 10 percent support, could emerge as kingmaker.

Analysts say lengthy coalition talks would delay reforms and erode investor confidence, already shaken by Belgrade’s recall of ambassadors from states that recognized Serbia’s former province and by protests against embassies and foreign firms.