29.05.2006.

INTERVIEW OF HRH ALEXANDER II FOR DAILY NEWSPAPER “KURIR”

ONLY KING SAVES SERBIA

Crown Prince is sending a message that Serbia urgently needs Monarchy that is more cost-effective and more efficient for citizens than Presidential system

Crown Prince Alexander II Karadjordjevic in his exclusive interview for Kurir sends a message that after the dissolution of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro we need stability, unity, continuity and positive image for Serbia, that can be possible only with Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchy.

What we need in Serbia is a neutral head of state who is not a member of any political party and for the democratically elected government the ability to rule Serbia without the almost daily rhetoric between the two most important government offices of our country. Serbia cannot waste anymore time and our people are seriously disillusioned with the lack of progress and results. We need to be a proud nation. Serbia needs a future.

We need as soon as possible new image and we can use the examples of kingdoms like Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Spain, Canada etc where there a positive image, stability and full democracy.

How to reach Monarchy?

There are several ways that we can implement idea of the Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchy in Serbia and one of them is certainly through Parliamentary Constitutive Assembly…

Do you believe that your proposal can get the support of the people on the referendum?

It is important that our people understand what a Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchy is. Please do not forget that during the dictatorship the regimes went out of the way to vilify constitutional parliamentary monarchy and now our people nave the right to know the democratic side.  There are people who confuse absolute republics and absolute monarchies with democratic monarchies and democratic republics. In Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchies and Democratic Republics there are democratic elections and the difference between the two is that the head of state in Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchies is not connected to any political party and is not a member of any political party. In a democratic republic the head of sate is the president who comes from a political party and is a member of a political party. Serbia must have a neutral head of state so that the democratically elected government function normally so as to avoid the constant bickering. By the way we must not ignore on the other hand the financial benefits of Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchy where there are no elections for the head of state there are parliamentary elections. The cost of presidential elections every four years is cut out, but the cost of parliamentary elections is maintained. Don’t forget the pension of the president and continued security after leaving office – not the case in Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchy. The president has a large staff and the Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchy has a small staff since the Prime with his cabinet rule the country.

Have you discussed your suggestion with politicians in Serbia recently and what is their reaction? Who explicitly supported you and who opposed the idea?

I have met with many politicians and the interesting thing is that there are many people in our political parties that would favour Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchy, but there is a lack of understanding of the democratic benefits and lack of information how it works such as in Spain, United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Holland etc.. In addition everyone should understand that I recognize all political parties and I am not a member of any single political party. This must be made very clear that there is no exclusivity or privilege for any political party. There is for everyone friendship, meeting point, unity, continuity and stability. All parties I repeat all parties benefit from the neutrality of Constitutional Parliamentary Monarch. The ruling affairs of the country fall on the democratically elected government.

President Tadic clearly said two days ago that “Serbia is republic and it should remain republic”. What is your comment?

That is democracy and the voice of democratic expression must be fully allowed and protect in any democratic environment. I deeply respect our President Boris Tadic and I am proud we are friends just as I deeply respect our Prime Minister and I am proud we are friends. Serbia would greatly benefit under a constitutional parliamentary monarchy after elections when one of them becomes the prime minister. Our people want stability and so do they.

What is your message to the people of divided Montenegro?

I am very sad about Montenegro. It is absolutely vital for both Serbia and Montenegro that we both have the best of relations. The governments of the two countries must go out of the way to act maturely just like all the countries in the European Union to get on with each other and to be like brothers and sisters. We depend upon each and we are related to each other. We must have superlative relations with all our neighbours and Europe as a whole and the world too. I would like to remind everyone that relations between the Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchies and Republics who are members of the European Union are excellent.

What is your message to the Serbian people in Bosnia and Hercegovina?

We can all move ahead with democratic process where the art of the possible is found. It is clear that brothers and sister in Republika Srpska. What cannot be done is to rock any boat; the way forward is only with mature and constructive negotiations with the help of the European Union. What must be done is to work on dialogue and friendship with everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina regardless of their religion or Ethnic origin. We live in democratic Europe just look at the European Union Members. We must not despair and we must conquer through friendship and negotiations our politicians have a difficult task, but by having a plan and strategy there is hope. We cannot be guided by conspiracy theories we are responsible for our future and what shape it will take.