SPS backs leader's bid to form govt. with DS

The Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) main board supported on Monday by a majority of votes the forming of a government with the DS-led coalition. This was confirmed by party leader Ivica Dacic as he addressed reporters in Belgrade after the meeting. SPS backs leader's bid to form govt. with DS He told journalists that an overwhelming majority of 245 of the 258 main board members voted in favor of the proposal, adopted earlier in the day unanimously by the party presidency. Eleven members voted against and two abstained, Dacic specified. Representatives of the Democratic Party (DS) coalition and the parties gathered around the SPS last night in Belgrade continued talks on the future government. The negotiations started on Saturday, when the Socialists coalition that includes PUPS and JS broke off talks with the Radicals (SRS) and the DSS-NS. After the meeting, leader of the Associated Pensioners Party (PUPS), Jovan Krkobabic said that the talks would be continued on Monday. In a written statement, the Democratic Party (DS) said that the main topic of the meeting was the program of the future government. The statement said that the main principles were agreed on and that the talks would continue and intensify "so that Serbia could get the stable, socially responsible government as soon as possible". After the talks, DS and SPS leaders Boris Tadic and Ivica Dacic said in separate statements that both sides had agreed on the new cabinet's basic goals, Beta news agency said. They include "EU membership, continuing the struggle to keep Kosovo within Serbia, cracking down on crime and corruption, a better social policy and improving the position of pensioners". The agency adds that Dacic also "favored keeping the Republic of Srpska and the Dayton Accord intact". Tadic stressed that the Democrats, and the four other parties in his pre-election "For a European Serbia" ticket, would insist that a final agreement be applied to the local level, including Belgrade. According to the information revealed thus far, the SPS-PUPS-JS would get two deputy PM positions as the interior ministry, along with ministries of energy, education and infrastructure. Talks within the DS-led coalition about the division of portfolios in future government are also taking place. B92 has learned that the leadership of the coalition agreed to give G17 Plus six ministries. They will have one deputy PM, and the ministries of economy, that implementing the National Investment Fund, telecommunications, health, sports and youth, and culture. According to Beta, Tadic will sign the coalition agreement with parties gathered around the SPS, but he will also sign another such document with the parties in his own coalition. Meanwhile, a senior SPS official says that the talks with the Democrats have "not betrayed party voters", or the representatives of the Serb Radical Party (SRS) and the DSS-New Serbia (NS) coalition. Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic said that it was not the fault of the SPS that the negotiations with the DSS-NS coalition and the SRS failed. "We didn’t betray anybody. If the DSS and the SRS wanted to make a government with us, they could have done so without the elections. Ask the DSS leader Vojislav Kostunica and the deputy leader of the SRS Tomislav Nikolic why did we go to the elections, when we had the parliamentary majority without them,” she told Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti. Djukic-Dejanovic added that "it is clear that the Radicals had no unity within the party and that the membership of the DSS is dwindling". Dacic addresses reporters in Belgrade on Monday (Tanjug)

SPS backs leader's bid to form govt. with DS

He told journalists that an overwhelming majority of 245 of the 258 main board members voted in favor of the proposal, adopted earlier in the day unanimously by the party presidency.

Eleven members voted against and two abstained, Dačić specified.

Representatives of the Democratic Party (DS) coalition and the parties gathered around the SPS last night in Belgrade continued talks on the future government.

The negotiations started on Saturday, when the Socialists coalition that includes PUPS and JS broke off talks with the Radicals (SRS) and the DSS-NS.

After the meeting, leader of the Associated Pensioners Party (PUPS), Jovan Krkobabić said that the talks would be continued on Monday. In a written statement, the Democratic Party (DS) said that the main topic of the meeting was the program of the future government.

The statement said that the main principles were agreed on and that the talks would continue and intensify "so that Serbia could get the stable, socially responsible government as soon as possible".

After the talks, DS and SPS leaders Boris Tadić and Ivica Dačić said in separate statements that both sides had agreed on the new cabinet's basic goals, Beta news agency said.

They include "EU membership, continuing the struggle to keep Kosovo within Serbia, cracking down on crime and corruption, a better social policy and improving the position of pensioners".

The agency adds that Dačić also "favored keeping the Republic of Srpska and the Dayton Accord intact".

Tadić stressed that the Democrats, and the four other parties in his pre-election "For a European Serbia" ticket, would insist that a final agreement be applied to the local level, including Belgrade.

According to the information revealed thus far, the SPS-PUPS-JS would get two deputy PM positions as the interior ministry, along with ministries of energy, education and infrastructure.

Talks within the DS-led coalition about the division of portfolios in future government are also taking place.

B92 has learned that the leadership of the coalition agreed to give G17 Plus six ministries. They will have one deputy PM, and the ministries of economy, that implementing the National Investment Fund, telecommunications, health, sports and youth, and culture.

According to Beta, Tadić will sign the coalition agreement with parties gathered around the SPS, but he will also sign another such document with the parties in his own coalition.

Meanwhile, a senior SPS official says that the talks with the Democrats have "not betrayed party voters", or the representatives of the Serb Radical Party (SRS) and the DSS-New Serbia (NS) coalition.

Slavica Đukić-Dejanović said that it was not the fault of the SPS that the negotiations with the DSS-NS coalition and the SRS failed.

"We didn’t betray anybody. If the DSS and the SRS wanted to make a government with us, they could have done so without the elections. Ask the DSS leader Vojislav Koštunica and the deputy leader of the SRS Tomislav Nikolić why did we go to the elections, when we had the parliamentary majority without them,” she told Belgrade daily Večernje Novosti.

Đukić-Dejanović added that "it is clear that the Radicals had no unity within the party and that the membership of the DSS is dwindling".