SNS leader criticizes another opposition party

The leader of the opposition SNS has spoken about the opposition Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), in the wake of his anti-government rally. Tomislav Nikolic told B92 late on Sunday in Belgrade that his party's cooperation with Vojislav Kostunica's DSS was "over", and that the cooperation was previously "a one way street". SNS leader criticizes another opposition party "All the time I tried to cooperate. They rejected it, and even with brutal attacks against the ideology of the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) and our motives, goals, behavior," he said. "That story is over, but I am not worried about the fate of the Serb Progressive Party. If I were in the Democratic Party of Serbia, I would be worried about its fate," Nikolic told B92 Utisak Nedelje (Impression of the Week) talk show. On Sunday, his party organized a rally in Belgrade which news agencies said was attended by 55,000 people. They criticized the government and demanded early elections. Nikolic said "more people showed up than expected", and that "had the government been changed, the media would be reporting about 300,000-400,000 people in the streets". Nikolic said the results of the gathering were "impressive", while there was "no demolition or incidents". The rally, according to the SNS leader, "posed the question of the legitimacy of the government despite the fact it can still secure support from a majority in parliament". Political analyst Milan Nikolic, who took part in the same show, said the government will call elections when it suits its agenda, rather than when the opposition demands, and added this will likely happen "perhaps late this year, mostly because the ruling coalition has no reason to call them now". The SNS leader said at the rally on Sunday that the government was given "two months" to announce early elections, or face protests. Nikolic however noted that while opinion polls show that opposition parties have high ratings now and therefore want to go to the polls now, "the ruling coalition expects events that will go to its advantage". Civil Initiative NGO president Miljeko Dereta also spoke for B92 to say that he understood the opposition's motives to urge elections as soon as possible, "since at this moment the government doesn't have much to brag about". But he said he did not believe there would be early elections. Dereta noted that SNS official Aleksandar Vucic stated recently that "in a conversation in Europe about elections it was said that October was the right time-frame when elections should be reasonably expected". Dereta also believes that the ruling coalition sees continued EU integration process as extremely important, and explained this pertained to receiving candidate status and determining the date for the start of negotiations with the EU. Tomislav Nikolic addresses the rally on Sunday (Beta)

SNS leader criticizes another opposition party

"All the time I tried to cooperate. They rejected it, and even with brutal attacks against the ideology of the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) and our motives, goals, behavior," he said.

"That story is over, but I am not worried about the fate of the Serb Progressive Party. If I were in the Democratic Party of Serbia, I would be worried about its fate," Nikolić told B92 Utisak Nedelje (Impression of the Week) talk show.

On Sunday, his party organized a rally in Belgrade which news agencies said was attended by 55,000 people. They criticized the government and demanded early elections.

Nikolić said "more people showed up than expected", and that "had the government been changed, the media would be reporting about 300,000-400,000 people in the streets".

Nikolić said the results of the gathering were "impressive", while there was "no demolition or incidents".

The rally, according to the SNS leader, "posed the question of the legitimacy of the government despite the fact it can still secure support from a majority in parliament".

Political analyst Milan Nikolić, who took part in the same show, said the government will call elections when it suits its agenda, rather than when the opposition demands, and added this will likely happen "perhaps late this year, mostly because the ruling coalition has no reason to call them now".

The SNS leader said at the rally on Sunday that the government was given "two months" to announce early elections, or face protests.

Nikolić however noted that while opinion polls show that opposition parties have high ratings now and therefore want to go to the polls now, "the ruling coalition expects events that will go to its advantage".

Civil Initiative NGO president Miljeko Dereta also spoke for B92 to say that he understood the opposition's motives to urge elections as soon as possible, "since at this moment the government doesn't have much to brag about".

But he said he did not believe there would be early elections.

Dereta noted that SNS official Aleksandar Vučić stated recently that "in a conversation in Europe about elections it was said that October was the right time-frame when elections should be reasonably expected".

Dereta also believes that the ruling coalition sees continued EU integration process as extremely important, and explained this pertained to receiving candidate status and determining the date for the start of negotiations with the EU.