Socialists want both LDP and URS in new government

SPS party leader Ivica Dacic said after consultations with President Tomislav Nikolic that there was still no parliamentary majority. The SPS-PUPS-JS coalition, led by the Socialists (SPS), would continue talks with the Democratic Party (DS), explained Dacic, but once again stressed that he "would not be part of a government that would include only the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) but not the United Regions of Serbia (URS)". Socialists want both LDP and URS in new government Dacic said he believed a compromise should be made, but would not cave under pressure to agree to a government with only the LDP, just for the sake of rounding up 126 seats, i.e., the minimum majority needed to vote in a new government. "We cannot create a government with 126 MPs with the LDP. We are in favor of them joining the government, but not for the government to depend on them," clarified the SPS leader. He said the coalition around the SPS agreed with the president that a government should be formed as soon as possible, but that it must not be formed "with just anyone, at all costs". According to Dacic, it is not the Socialists that are stalling the formation of a new government, rather it is the DS that finds the Mladjan Dinkic's URS unacceptable. Explaining his reluctance to be in a government with the LDP, the SPS leader said it was due to its position on the Serb Republic (RS), but added it would also be difficult to come to an agreement with the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) as this coalition would require support from the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) which is opposed to Serbia's EU accession. "Our position is clear. If the talks with the DS - which we might continue as soon as tomorrow - fail, only then will we sit down with other major factors, above all the SNS," said Dacic. He added that "enormous pressure is being applied on the SPS", and stressed that he did not wish for the issue of putting together the country's new government "to come down to pressuring the coalition gathered around the Socialists". "What would you have us do, form a government with just anyone?" wondered Dacic. At the same time, the SPS leader stated that negotiations should be intensified, and "decisions reached". President Nikolic meets with SPS-PUPS-JS coalition leaders Ivica Dacic, Jovan Krkobabic, Dragan "Palma" Markovic (Tanjug) "Serbia already lost too much time" "Serbia has already lost too much precious time and work must begin immediately on solving the main problems faced by the people," said Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic after his meeting with the SPS-PUPS-JS leaders today. According to a release issued by the president's office, Nikolic once again said he would entrust the mandate for forming a government to the person who secures a parliamentary majority, regardless of their party affiliation. Nikolic said a government should be formed as soon as possible so that it could get to work on the accumulated economic and social problems. He said Serbia would be facing additional difficulties to keep up with its loan payments this fall, and that "a plan needs to be devised to prevent this from further deteriorating the already poor living standard." B92 Beta RTS Tanjug

Socialists want both LDP and URS in new government

Dačić said he believed a compromise should be made, but would not cave under pressure to agree to a government with only the LDP, just for the sake of rounding up 126 seats, i.e., the minimum majority needed to vote in a new government.

"We cannot create a government with 126 MPs with the LDP. We are in favor of them joining the government, but not for the government to depend on them," clarified the SPS leader.

He said the coalition around the SPS agreed with the president that a government should be formed as soon as possible, but that it must not be formed "with just anyone, at all costs".

According to Dačić, it is not the Socialists that are stalling the formation of a new government, rather it is the DS that finds the Mlađan Dinkić's URS unacceptable.

Explaining his reluctance to be in a government with the LDP, the SPS leader said it was due to its position on the Serb Republic (RS), but added it would also be difficult to come to an agreement with the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) as this coalition would require support from the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) which is opposed to Serbia's EU accession.

"Our position is clear. If the talks with the DS - which we might continue as soon as tomorrow - fail, only then will we sit down with other major factors, above all the SNS," said Dačić.

He added that "enormous pressure is being applied on the SPS", and stressed that he did not wish for the issue of putting together the country's new government "to come down to pressuring the coalition gathered around the Socialists".

"What would you have us do, form a government with just anyone?" wondered Dačić.

At the same time, the SPS leader stated that negotiations should be intensified, and "decisions reached".

"Serbia already lost too much time"

"Serbia has already lost too much precious time and work must begin immediately on solving the main problems faced by the people," said Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić after his meeting with the SPS-PUPS-JS leaders today.

According to a release issued by the president's office, Nikolić once again said he would entrust the mandate for forming a government to the person who secures a parliamentary majority, regardless of their party affiliation.

Nikolić said a government should be formed as soon as possible so that it could get to work on the accumulated economic and social problems.

He said Serbia would be facing additional difficulties to keep up with its loan payments this fall, and that "a plan needs to be devised to prevent this from further deteriorating the already poor living standard."