Ombudsman Jankovic Will Run for Serbian Presidency

Serbian Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic on Monday said that he will run for the presidential post in the election in 2017 - but will only start his campaign once the election is called, since Serbia needs the institution of Ombudsman.

"I will be the candidate of the citizens. The President reflects the unity of state and nation and not party unity. Parties may and should find their place in the common interest and not vice-versa," a report of the regional network N1 quoted him as saying.

"As until now, I will continue to do my [Ombudsman's] work in accordance with the constitution and the law without backing from anything. There should be the rule of law in Serbia and not uncertainty and fear."

Late in November a number of Serbian intellectuals, writers, artists and public figures urged Jankovic - who has frequently crossed swords with the government - to run as President in 2017 when the mandate of Tomislav Nikolic expires.

The list was signed by the diplomat and writer Dragan Velikic, the director Goran Markovic, actors Nebojsa Glogovac and Branko Cvejic, Professor Vesna Rakic Vodinelic and other prominent individuals.

In announcing he was running for President, Jankovic also hinted that the current ruling parties had undermined the rule of law and the constitution.

"For citizens, it would be the worst for Serbia to enter the EU as it is, without the rule of law and with a corrupted, silenced media and devastated institutions," Jankovic said.

He said future regional stability did not lie in new arms race, [such as the current one between Serbia and Croatia] but in shared human values.

A lawyer by training, Jankovic began his second mandate as Ombusdman in August 2012. However, he has encountered aggressive criticism from...