Pundits interpret Vulin's "great powers" comment

Pundits interpret Vulin's "great powers" comment

BELGRADE -- Political analyst Đorđe Vukadinović says Aleksandar Vulin's statement about "great powers not wanting a prime minister with large support" is "exaggerated."

The labor minister suggested earlier that PM Aleksandar Vučić was the target of criticism for that reason.

"There's a grain of truth in what Vulin is saying, but it is too simplistic and hypocritical coming from someone who came to power thanks to the displeasure of those same centers of power with the previous government in Serbia," Vukadinović commented for the Beta news agency.

He said that, "according to some, such a situation is possible -i.e., that foreigners do not like strong leadership." But in that case, Vukadinović continued, this is equally true for Vučić's predecessors at the top level, especially for Vojislav Koštunica and Boris Tadić, who also came under criticism and lost favor with the West after the initial support they enjoyed.

Vukadinović added that it is "generally better for great powers to have two or more actors on the political scene who are cooperative and competing for their favor."

"Such was the situation between 2010 and 2012 when the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) was created with the 'blessing' of these same centers of power that Vulin now accuses," remarked the analyst.

But, he continued, there is also the theory that what suits western countries are precisely "strong local players" in this region, who collude with them and ensure the preservation of their interests, stability, and "a straight-forward political scene."

Vukadinović mentioned Macedonia and Montenegro as examples in favor of this view. "But, that is...