DS, DSS meet minority parties

DS, DSS meet minority parties

The two largest parties of the democratic bloc are expected to meet on Thursday, March 13, and revise a so-called "sixth principle" of power sharing, agreed on by the DS and G17 Plus, which implies that one and the same party cannot occupy posts of the prime minister and the president. Thereby drawing the post of the state president into the equation.

DS, G17 at odds over finance ministry

The Democrats' candidate for prime minister Božidar Đelić reiterated his position regarding the finance ministry saying that G17 Plus cannot remain at the helm of the ministry.

“The Finance Ministry cannot go to G17 Plus. Pursuant to the democracy principle, parties that barely topped the threshold can’t aspire to the most prominent ministries in the cabinet”, Đelić told the daily Večernje Novosti.

On the other hand, G17 Plus Vice President Tomica Milosavljević stressed that the G17 deserved an equal treatment in the cabinet coalition. “The Democratic Party will get a half of the cabinet portfolios, the Democratic Party of Serbia is entitled to a third of the posts, while the G17 Plus receives 15 percent of cabinet seats,” Milosavljević insisted.

"When it comes to the finance ministry issue, Božider Đelić has spoken on his behalf and not on behalf of his party. The DS hasn't officially confirmed Đelić's statements", Milosavljević concluded.

Božidar Đelić denied reports that DS leader Boris Tadić told a closed session of the party's senior council Vojislav Kuštunica would keep the post of prime minister.

Đelić reiterated that the Democrats would keep insisting on attaining premiership, respecting the people’s will and the democracy principles.

“Fresh elections possible”

Political analyst Vladimir Goati believes the new government is unlikely to be formed.

“The Democrats won’t accept the power-sharing principle, as the Democratic Party of Serbia suggested”, the Novi Sad weekly Građanski List quoted Goati as saying.

Goati went on to explain that the DSS denied its support of DS leader Boris Tadić at the presidential elections in 2004, nominating its own candidate Dragan Maršićanin. “The power-sharing concept in 2004 lacked the support of those who now advocate the idea. I doubt it will pass this time”, Goati said.

“Since the DS has 64 lawmakers in the Parliament, and the DSS only 33, the Democrats can justly claim premiership”, Goati argued.

According to Goati, new elections represent a major risk, particularly for small parties, since fresh election could only consolidate Serbia’s political scene and benefit large parties, including the Serb Radical Party (SRS) and the Democratic Party.

“The DS has achieved its best electoral result in its history, and its voters expect that the Democrats will indeed nominate their own candidate for the PM post. Anything short of that will be seen as backing down and a admitting defeat”, Goati concluded.