President holds govt. consultations with Progressives

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic on Monday in Belgrade held consultations on the formation of a new government with officials of the Serb Progressives (SNS). Nikolic will continue with his consultations on forming the new government with representatives of parties elected to parliament on Wednesday, June 6, by meeting with a delegation of the coalition gathered around the Democratic Party (DS), the president's office said. President holds govt. consultations with Progressives The Serbian president said the government should be formed as soon as possible as the economic and social situation in the country was very difficult, according to the release. Nikolic said that key priorities in the work of the new government should be opening new jobs, creating a more favorable business environment and attracting new domestic and foreign investment. Nikolic's role as president is to - in case no party or coalition informed him it had forged a majority to form the country's next government - hold consultations with representatives of parliamentary parties. It was reported earlier in the day that Nikolic decided to launch these consultations today "due to the difficult social and economic situation in the country". On Sunday, the president - who was until recently leader of the SNS - said that he "did not wish to speculate on who will form a government, but that it must be put together as soon as possible." "Although an agreement on a majority was reached after the May 6 parliamentary elections, it is obvious that this majority does not exist," he stated, in reference to announcements that came from the Socialists (SPS) and the Democrats (DS). "After I talk with the SNS, I will talk to the DS and the SPS," Nikolic added, and explained that there was no deadline for him to complete these talks, but that he expected them to be done soon. A coalition gathered around the SNS won 73 mandates in the country's new parliament, followed by coalitions led by the DS and the SNS, with 67 and 44 seats respectively. At least 126 MPs must vote in favor of a proposed government in order for it to be elected. SNS leader Aleksandar Vucic has stated that his party was ready to offer cooperation to the Socialists and "individual opposition parties that we already cooperate with". At the same time, SPS leader Ivica Dacic was quoted as saying that a parliamentary majority had not yet been agreed on, but that negotiations with the Democrats had not fallen through, and would continue. "In the next few days, serious talks with the Democrats will only begin. If they do not succeed, only then will the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition talk with possible other partners," he said on Sunday. The deadline for a government to be elected is September 5. Tomislav Nikolic meets with SNS officials (Tanjug) SNS starts talks with SPS Serb Progressive Party (SNS) leader Aleksandar Vucic said his party would start talks on forming a government with the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) on Monday. Noting that a SNS delegation has informed Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic about this, Vucic said their proposal to the SPS would include a government with 12 ministries, a faster and more efficient administration, as well as savings of around EUR 600 million as a result of a new law on public procurements. Asked whether the SNS was prepared to offer the prime minister's office to the SPS, Vucic said personnel decisions were still not on the agenda, but reiterated Jorgovanka Tabakovic was the SNS candidate. Vucic said the SNS had already started informal talks with the Socialists, but respected their obligation to also negotiate with other potential partners. Talking about the possibility of a government made up of the Democratic Party (DS) and its coalition partners, Vucic said that one month after the election, there was still no agreement. "I do not think it is good for Serbia that the government be formed by the DS, the SPS and the Liberal Democratic Party, because that would be the exact same government, with the same people. We would have the same government we have had until now, with the same ministers, the same program, except it would also include fighting against the supposedly genocidal creation of the Serb Republic (RS) fighting for an independent Kosovo," added Vucic. Asked who would be the third partner if the SNS and the SPS formed a government, Vucic did not give a concrete answer, but said he would meet with Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and its leader Vojislav Kostunica, with whom the SNS has cooperated successfully in the past, by the end of the week. After a SNS delegation met with Nikolic to discuss progress in forming a government, Vucic told reporters that the president would meet with other parties, and then give a mandate for forming the government to whoever has at least 126 seats in the parliament. Vucic said he was convinced Nikolic would not protect the interests of any party, but only of the people. The SNS leader reiterated that the new government could not be legitimate without the SNS, and said he informed the president of this position. "Out position is that any government without the SNS is illegitimate, because in the presidential runoff, the people showed they want changes and a different Serbia," said Vucic. Tanjug

President holds govt. consultations with Progressives

The Serbian president said the government should be formed as soon as possible as the economic and social situation in the country was very difficult, according to the release.

Nikolić said that key priorities in the work of the new government should be opening new jobs, creating a more favorable business environment and attracting new domestic and foreign investment.

Nikolić's role as president is to - in case no party or coalition informed him it had forged a majority to form the country's next government - hold consultations with representatives of parliamentary parties.

It was reported earlier in the day that Nikolić decided to launch these consultations today "due to the difficult social and economic situation in the country".

On Sunday, the president - who was until recently leader of the SNS - said that he "did not wish to speculate on who will form a government, but that it must be put together as soon as possible."

"Although an agreement on a majority was reached after the May 6 parliamentary elections, it is obvious that this majority does not exist," he stated, in reference to announcements that came from the Socialists (SPS) and the Democrats (DS).

"After I talk with the SNS, I will talk to the DS and the SPS," Nikolić added, and explained that there was no deadline for him to complete these talks, but that he expected them to be done soon.

A coalition gathered around the SNS won 73 mandates in the country's new parliament, followed by coalitions led by the DS and the SNS, with 67 and 44 seats respectively. At least 126 MPs must vote in favor of a proposed government in order for it to be elected.

SNS leader Aleksandar Vučić has stated that his party was ready to offer cooperation to the Socialists and "individual opposition parties that we already cooperate with".

At the same time, SPS leader Ivica Dačić was quoted as saying that a parliamentary majority had not yet been agreed on, but that negotiations with the Democrats had not fallen through, and would continue.

"In the next few days, serious talks with the Democrats will only begin. If they do not succeed, only then will the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition talk with possible other partners," he said on Sunday.

The deadline for a government to be elected is September 5.

SNS starts talks with SPS

Serb Progressive Party (SNS) leader Aleksandar Vučić said his party would start talks on forming a government with the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) on Monday.

Noting that a SNS delegation has informed Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić about this, Vučić said their proposal to the SPS would include a government with 12 ministries, a faster and more efficient administration, as well as savings of around EUR 600 million as a result of a new law on public procurements.

Asked whether the SNS was prepared to offer the prime minister's office to the SPS, Vučić said personnel decisions were still not on the agenda, but reiterated Jorgovanka Tabakovic was the SNS candidate.

Vučić said the SNS had already started informal talks with the Socialists, but respected their obligation to also negotiate with other potential partners.

Talking about the possibility of a government made up of the Democratic Party (DS) and its coalition partners, Vučić said that one month after the election, there was still no agreement.

"I do not think it is good for Serbia that the government be formed by the DS, the SPS and the Liberal Democratic Party, because that would be the exact same government, with the same people. We would have the same government we have had until now, with the same ministers, the same program, except it would also include fighting against the supposedly genocidal creation of the Serb Republic (RS) fighting for an independent Kosovo," added Vučić.

Asked who would be the third partner if the SNS and the SPS formed a government, Vučić did not give a concrete answer, but said he would meet with Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and its leader Vojislav Koštunica, with whom the SNS has cooperated successfully in the past, by the end of the week.

After a SNS delegation met with Nikolić to discuss progress in forming a government, Vučić told reporters that the president would meet with other parties, and then give a mandate for forming the government to whoever has at least 126 seats in the parliament.

Vučić said he was convinced Nikolić would not protect the interests of any party, but only of the people.

The SNS leader reiterated that the new government could not be legitimate without the SNS, and said he informed the president of this position.

"Out position is that any government without the SNS is illegitimate, because in the presidential runoff, the people showed they want changes and a different Serbia," said Vučić.