Democrats and Socialists agree to form new govt.

Pre-election coalitions gathered around the Democrats (DS) and the Socialists (SPS) will form Serbia's next government, reports said on Wednesday. This has been confirmed from both camps. Democrats and Socialists agree to form new govt. Mladjan Dinkic's United Regions of Serbia (URS) and ethnic minority parties are also likely to join in the new cabinet. Dragan "Palma" Markovic, leader of the SPS-allied United Serbia (JS), addressed a news conference to say that the leaders of the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition and leader of the Democratic Party (DS) Boris Tadic met earlier in the day early and agreed that the composition of this future government will be discussed after the second round of presidential elections. Tadic will face leader of the Serb Progressives (SNS) Tomislav Nikolic in the May 20 runoff. Markovic further told reporters that "at this point" the next government would be set up by the DS, and SPS-led coalitions , the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians and the United Regions of Serbia. Asked whether the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) would also be in the government, Markovic said that the party "would have to change a lot to be there", at the same time expressing his belief that such a change of policy would not take place, and ruling out the possibility of LDP leader Cedomir Jovanovic "being given the foreing ministry portfolio". Markovic said that the short meeting did not include the topics of distribution of portfolios and the name of the next prime minister, and added that this will be discussed after May 20. But he added that SPS leader Ivica Dacic "deserves to be prime minister" and that his results have recommended him for the post. Markovic pointed out that he is confident that the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) will not be in the government. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party (DS) issued a statement of its own, saying that the DS and SPS-led coalitions "will work together to form a parliamentary majority in the national and local parliaments, Belgrade and the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina". "The coalition Ivica Dacic-SPS-PUPS-JS will support Boris Tadic in the second round of the presidential election," the statement said. "All personnel issues in forming the bodies of the national and local government will be discussed further after the presidential election," the Democrats said. Dragan "Palma" Markovic addresses reporters on Wednesday (Beta) Beta Tanjug

Democrats and Socialists agree to form new govt.

Mlađan Dinkić's United Regions of Serbia (URS) and ethnic minority parties are also likely to join in the new cabinet.

Dragan "Palma" Marković, leader of the SPS-allied United Serbia (JS), addressed a news conference to say that the leaders of the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition and leader of the Democratic Party (DS) Boris Tadić met earlier in the day early and agreed that the composition of this future government will be discussed after the second round of presidential elections.

Tadić will face leader of the Serb Progressives (SNS) Tomislav Nikolić in the May 20 runoff.

Marković further told reporters that "at this point" the next government would be set up by the DS, and SPS-led coalitions , the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians and the United Regions of Serbia.

Asked whether the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) would also be in the government, Marković said that the party "would have to change a lot to be there", at the same time expressing his belief that such a change of policy would not take place, and ruling out the possibility of LDP leader Čedomir Jovanović "being given the foreing ministry portfolio".

Marković said that the short meeting did not include the topics of distribution of portfolios and the name of the next prime minister, and added that this will be discussed after May 20.

But he added that SPS leader Ivica Dačić "deserves to be prime minister" and that his results have recommended him for the post.

Marković pointed out that he is confident that the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) will not be in the government.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party (DS) issued a statement of its own, saying that the DS and SPS-led coalitions "will work together to form a parliamentary majority in the national and local parliaments, Belgrade and the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina".

"The coalition Ivica Dačić-SPS-PUPS-JS will support Boris Tadić in the second round of the presidential election," the statement said.

"All personnel issues in forming the bodies of the national and local government will be discussed further after the presidential election," the Democrats said.