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The two largest of the Balkan States of Croatia and Serbia, despite the continuation of the epidemic of the coronavirus, will hold parliamentary elections. The ruling party in both countries hope that the progress in the fight against COVID-19 will help them win. In Serbia, the authorities rely more on the rhetoric and policies of its neighbors. With details — the correspondent of “Kommersant” in the Balkans Gennady Sysoyev.”Reliability is more important than freedom”the Road to the election in Croatia was opened on Monday the dissolution of the Sabor (Parliament). Now according to the laws of the country the voting will take place “not earlier than 30 and no later than 60 days from this date”, that is, at the end of June — early July.For the elections in favor of party of the ruling right-wing coalition headed by the Croatian democratic Union (HDZ). The decision was taken despite the fact that the epidemic of coronavirus in the country is still ongoing, and with new elections according to the Constitution, it was possible to wait until the fall, because the previous one was held in September 2016. “We believe that the timing of the vote is quite appropriate. The epidemiological situation is favourable, the number of new infections in recent days, calculated ones (only in Croatia 2228 infected and 95 deaths.— “Kommersant”), so when the responsibility to organize elections in due time”,— explained the decision of the Prime Minister and the leader of the CDU Andrey Plenkovich.Croatian experts also believe that it’s not an accident. “The ruling coalition is in the early elections, wanting to take advantage of the current favourable situation of coronavirus has not yet felt the recession in the economy. And it is still unknown how the rest of the tourist season”,— explained “Kommersant” analyst and commentator for the newspaper Jutarnji list Vlad Vurusic.I agree with this assessment and other Croatian experts. “The CDU expects that the men who headed the National Directorate of civil protection (a body that coordinates, in Croatia the fight against coronavirus.— “B”) and showed professionalism ensure they win the elections,”— said the commentator on Croatian radio and television Jasmina Popovic. “The CDU controls the Management of civil protection, and this structure is well done his job, and it will be a strong argument in favor of the ruling party— echoes analyst Yaroslav Picnic.— In addition, people unite around the one who offers reliability. Now obviously, this is a Prime Plenkovich. It is considered that in times of uncertainty reliability is more important than freedom and a large number of people will make this choice”.According to the interlocutor of “Kommersant”, the CDU is likely to win the election, and the intrigue consists in, whether the ruling party received votes to govern alone or will need, and now the coalition.All attributes companyevery in Serbia will be held on June 21. It was originally scheduled for April 26, but broke out in mid-March in the country, the epidemic forced them to postpone. A new date for universal suffrage, the President Aleksandar Vucic called on may 4, although by the time to eradication of coronavirus in Serbia was far away. Even today, the number of new infection cases in the country reaches hundreds of people a day, and the total number of cases (over 10 thousand) — the highest in the region. In addition, on may 4 in the Republic were still in effect state of emergency, which the Assembly (Parliament) has cancelled only a few days later.Now oppositionists accuse the authorities of trying to take advantage of the epidemic to hurry to hold elections when the most stripped-down campaign and to strengthen its dominant position. The Union had previously intended to boycott the elections, believing that the country has no democratic conditions for their conduct. Now the determination of the opposition only strengthened. They accuse the ruling party that for the sake of power she is willing to sacrifice the health of the population. Anyway, with the beginning of the campaign, the criticism from Belgrade, and even threats against neighbors intensified. And not only the minor politicians, but also key Ministers.First from defense Minister Alexander Vulin went to the President of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski, who spoke against the possible exchange of territories between Serbia and Kosovo. “Pendarovski in Macedonia, few about anything asked even less important what he thinks on issues concerning neighbouring countries. His opinion does not interest anyone,” said Alexander Wulin.”How do you behave towards the Serbs, with whom you live, the same reaction and expect from Serbia, close to where you live,” he threatened Alexander Wulin. His colleague in the government, foreign Minister Ivica Dacic predicted neighboring country a “fratricidal war between Serbs and Montenegrins”.The President of North Macedonia did not comment on statements by Ministers of neighbouring States, and in Podgorica, they were regarded as “tough and dangerous interference in the internal Affairs of Montenegro” and how inappropriate the attribute of the Serbian election campaign.