Re-Electing The Past

IN ANY NORMAL ELECTION, THE ODDS WOULD PROBAbly have been against Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic. The U.S. had publicly charged him with war crimes, the international community was tightening economic sanctions on his country, and the inflation rate was running at 20,000% annually. But none of that mattered. Milosevic, the virulent nationalist, was re-elected with 55% of the vote in the race for the Serbian presidency.

Monitors from other European states said the campaign had been "tainted by shameless propaganda in the state-run media," which labeled Milosevic's opponent, the Serbian-born American businessman Milan Panic, a spy and a traitor. The poll watchers also reported that election lists had been rigged in Milosevic's favor and that 5% of potential voters were prevented from casting their ballots.

With nationalist sentiment the ruling emotion, the war-crimes charges may have added cachet to some candidates. Washington had linked ultra-nationalist leader Vojislav Seselj and Serb militia chief Zeljko ("Arkan") Raznjatovic to Bosnian atrocities. Both were elected to the Serbian parliament. Though British Prime Minister John Major joined George Bush in pushing for enforcement of the U.N.-ordered no-fly zone over Bosnia, the Serbs showed no sign of backing off. The elections only emphasized their continuing defiance and kept Milosevic firmly in control.