LDP Working Hard to be a Contender

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000572 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL SR SUBJECT: LDP Working Hard to be a Contender ¶1. (U) Summary: The nascent Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),although still with much work to do before being ready for a nationwide election, has been buoyed by better-than-expected results in recent by-elections and a successful party congress. The party still faces a significant challenge in energizing an apathetic public that is weary of the constant themes of ICTY and Kosovo and disappointed with current leadership in the democratic bloc. If LDP is to pass the threshold for participation in a future parliament, it will have to find a way to mobilize these voters to go to the polls. End Summary. ¶2. (U) The March 11 LDP party congress in Belgrade introduced the party's new local and national leaders as well as its new 10-point political platform which will form the basis for its future electoral campaigning. The platform, entitled "Serbia Wants to Work," reflects the party's heavy dose of ex-DOS/Djindjic era officials and sets a distinctly pro-reform tone (at just 21 pages, it also stands in stark contrast to the typical Serbian party platform, which can run into the hundreds of pages and stultify potential voters). The congress was well- attended for a party currently polling at 2-4 percent nationally, with some 2000 attendees - including some foreign ambassadors - filling the conference venue. ¶3. (U) Prior to the congress, LDP president Cedomir Jovanovic told poloff the party has established 82 municipal boards (local offices) since its formation in November 2005, including in Serbia's five largest cities, with plans for 22 more. He was especially proud of the February opening of the party's Novi Sad branch, which drew 900 supporters in a city that elected a Radical Party mayor in September 2004. Jovanovic said the LDP leadership was also pleased with its result in a January mayoral election in Smederevo, a medium- sized industrial town southwest of Belgrade. Its candidate received nine percent of the vote, despite limited funds, untrained volunteers, and untested political machinery. Ultimately, Jovanovic said, the LDP wants to earn the support of 200,000 voters, viewed as the minimum number required for a party to enter parliament regardless of turnout. ¶4. Comment: The LDP is working hard to make itself into a parliamentary contender. Polls vary on its success to date, since it is a new party, but many suggest that it is between 2-4 percent (including support for its election ally the Civic Alliance of Serbia). According to some pollsters, support for LDP could top out as high as 9-10 percent if it can capture large numbers of traditional democratic voters who have not voted in recent elections as they have become increasingly disillusioned with the current democratic leadership. LDP has begun working with USAID-funded National Democratic Institute to develop its party infrastructure and formulate a plan to tap into the circa 600,000 "lost" votes that could be captured by democratic bloc parties in the next parliamentary elections if those voters can be mobilized. POLT