Madam President

Ever since they ousted Slobodan Milosevic two years ago in a popular uprising, Serbs have had trouble finding someone to fill his shoes. The bitter rivalry between Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic and Yugoslav federal President Vojislav Kostunica has poisoned the political air, slowed the transition to a free-market economy and paralyzed the machinery of state. It also alienated the electorate. Three times in the past three months, presidential elections — dominated each time by Kostunica — have failed to muster the more than 50% of eligible voters required for a valid ballot. The current office holder, Milan Milutinovic, a relic from Milosevic's era, is expected to be delivered to the war-crimes tribunal in the Hague as soon as his term expires on Jan. 5. So who will get the top job next?

A new job is always stressful, and this is the top job. But I'm certain I'm up to it. Q&A Do you feel like an accidental President? I do. This is a job for an elected official, and I was not elected. I see this as a temporary solution — just until new elections or until the constitution is amended. The idea is to have the next President elected by the parliament. Amending the constitution may take months or years. Would you keep the post for as long? Just as long as it's necessary. Meanwhile, I'll try to focus on my primary post in the parliament. After all, Serbia has a parliamentary, not a presidential, system, and I hope too much power will never again be put in the hands of one person, the way it used to be during Milosevic's days. Some say you've been moving up too fast. Does the speed of your progress make you nervous? Of course it does. A new job is always a stressful thing, and this is the top job. However, I'm fairly certain I'm up to it. How do you feel about being Serbia's first woman President? We need more women in politics, most importantly in elected positions. We now have a law that says that at least 30% of municipal assembly candidates must be women. It's time for women to get more involved in order to defend their interests. You've been running parliament for two years now. What would you say about your record as Speaker? It wasn't always easy, but I think I've accomplished some things. The parliament is now a more orderly, more open place than I found it. I've allowed the general public to attend sessions and I've included nongovernmental organizations in the works. I've also invested a lot in modern technologies. Kostunica's supporters say you're a puppet of Djindjic. I'm nobody's puppet. I just follow the procedure. I've had my share of disagreements with Djindjic as well

With Kostunica's legal attempts to challenge the election thwarted by the Supreme Court and his allegations of election fraud unsubstantiated, Natasa Micic looks set to become the first women head of state in Serbian history. At 37, she is also the youngest. As the Speaker of parliament, Micic will take over as acting President until successful elections are held. Red-haired and green-eyed, Micic has been nicknamed Nicole Kidman by some of her male colleagues. She resents the name. "It just shows immaturity and disregard for women on the part of our politicians," she says. "I'd rather be likened to Margaret Thatcher or Indira Gandhi." Still, she's been more than happy to invoke other Hollywood icons in the past. During the anti-Milosevic riots in October 2000, Micic and a female friend taunted the police by cruising Belgrade demonstrations in a car with "Thelma and Louise" inscribed on the hood.

As a member of the Civic Alliance, one of the smallest parties within Serbia's 18-member ruling coalition, Micic was virtually unknown in Belgrade until she became a deputy speaker of parliament in late 2000. Her meteoric career has been fueled by luck as well as ambition. She became Speaker a year later, when Dragoljub Marsicanin, a Kostunica aide, was forced out of the post. Since then she has presided over often fractious legislators with a gentle but firm hand. It hasn't been easy. She has had water thrown in her face and once had to order security staff to eject several unruly M.P.s. But she never lost her cool. "Maybe they thought I wouldn't be strong enough to stand up to them because I'm a woman," she says. "They were wrong."

During the Milosevic years, Micic had ample opportunity to toughen up as a human-rights activist in the provincial town of Uzice near the Bosnian border. Her law office became the unofficial headquarters of Otpor, the anti-Milosevic resistance group that played a pivotal role in toppling the dictator. "She was like a mother to us," remembers one former Otpor activist. "As soon as someone was arrested, she'd come down on the authorities like a ton of bricks."

She will need that toughness now. She's noncommittal when asked what policies she will pursue and insists that she will be a mere caretaker President, with her focus still on parliament. Her opponents dismiss her as a political lightweight — Kostunica has said that having Micic as President would be "a joke." "Not a very appropriate thing to say," she comments with a wry smile. "But I'm not a vindictive person."