Nikolić: My victory won't topple government

Tomislav Nikolic told a Belgrade daily that his presidential victory would not bring down the government. "Whoever can muster the support of 126 MPs will rule. I will call elections only if Kostunica resigns," Nikolic, the Serb Radical Party (SRS) candidate in the January 20 election, said about his plans should his bid to become Serbia's next president prove successful. Nikolic: My victory won't topple government Although individually the strongest party to emerge from the January 2007 parliamentary vote, the SRS did not win the majority and was unable to find coalition partners to form a government. Serbia is currently ruled by the DS-DSS-NS-G17 Plus coalition of the so-called Democratic Bloc. Now Nikolic, who is deputy SRS president, while party leader Vojislav Seselj faces war crimes trial at the Hague Tribunal, told Vecernje Novosti that, irrelevant of the election's outcome, "ideally, Tadic, Kostunica and myself should decide together and stand behind any decision important for the country." Nikolic added he was "completely open for cooperation" with Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's DSS. According to him, Kostunica "still has enough time to in peace consider who to support in the run-off". Incumbent Tadic, the leader of the Democrats (DS), and Nikolic are expected to make it to the second round for a face-off on February 3. Nikolic speaks at an election rally (Beta)

Nikolić: My victory won't topple government

Although individually the strongest party to emerge from the January 2007 parliamentary vote, the SRS did not win the majority and was unable to find coalition partners to form a government.

Serbia is currently ruled by the DS-DSS-NS-G17 Plus coalition of the so-called Democratic Bloc.

Now Nikolić, who is deputy SRS president, while party leader Vojislav Šešelj faces war crimes trial at the Hague Tribunal, told Večernje Novosti that, irrelevant of the election's outcome, "ideally, Tadić, Koštunica and myself should decide together and stand behind any decision important for the country."

Nikolić added he was "completely open for cooperation" with Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica's DSS.

According to him, Koštunica "still has enough time to in peace consider who to support in the run-off".

Incumbent Tadić, the leader of the Democrats (DS), and Nikolić are expected to make it to the second round for a face-off on February 3.