DS leader Tadić says party backed his principles

Leader of the Democrats Boris Tadic said on Wednesday in Belgrade that his party wishes to form a new government, "but only in their principles are respected". He made the statements while addressing a session of the main board of the Democratic Party (DS), called to discuss election results, and participation in Serbia's next government. DS leader Tadic says party backed his principles Tadic also announced that "changes" would happen within his party in the wake of the May 6 presidential elections - when a coalition gathered around the party finished second with 67 parliamentary seats, and the presidential runoff on May 20, when he lost his bid to be elected for a third term in office to then SNS party leader Tomislav Nikolic. The struggle to form a majority in the parliament is underway and the days ahead are of key importance, Tadic said told the gathering this evening. "We have to see with whom we can form the government, and with whom we can establish local administrations, bearing in mind the interests of the people," he said. The Democratic Party makes every effort about setting the goals of the future government, which does not mean that the other parties are not trying to form a majority, Tadic said, stressing that the DS will "definitely not take part in any such coalition". He once again ruled out an alliance with the Serb Progressives (SNS), or the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS). Tadic said that the Democrats "do not give up" as they "promised to the citizens the fight against poverty and unemployment and combating corruption as the two key objectives of a future government". He added that the election results "will be good" - if his party manages to form a parliamentary majority. If someone else forms a government, Serbia's EU path will not be certain, said Tadic, adding that the Democrats are facing tough decisions and that the situation in the country is difficult, but not catastrophic as some claim. Tadic, who accepted his party's nomination to become the next prime minister, said he was willing to take that responsibility in case the Democratic Party takes over the responsibility on all government levels and backs him fully. Tadic said that the DS believes the government can be constituted only with those willing to share both the good and the bad and those who have no backup policy. "The DS has no intention whatsoever of constituting the new government with parties that did not participate in the previous government and were not willing to share both the good and the bad," Tadic noted, speaking about the choice of a third coalition partner that would join his party and the Socialists (SPS) and their pre-election coalition. Tadic reiterated that it was "certain the position of the government partner would not be offered to the Serb Progressive Party or the Democratic Party of Serbia" and that "talks with other potential partners would be initiated immediately after the session of the Main Board if he wins the support of other members". Tadic added that he wished to reiterate the same statement he made before the elections - that the DS will forge a government coalition only with parties of similar orientation and there can be no compromise as regards "European integration, quality of macroeconomic policy and savings where needed, but the latter would be made on the government level and not on the level of citizens". The leader of the Democrats also said that "there will be time to analyze election results", and that, as a consequence, "changes will take place within the party". After the main board ended its meeting, Tadic said that the party had supported him in his bid to head a new government on the principles that he had laid out. The meeting lasted nearly three hours, with the discussion taking place mostly behind closed doors. When he emerged from the session Tadic first said he did not wish to make any statements, but then stopped and told reporters: "Did I receive the support? Yes, I received it." DS Political Council Chairman Dragoljub Micunovic said that the debate today was "lively", and that the conclusion was that Tadic, as candidate for prime minister, should continue negotiations on forming a new government, but that the Democrats would not enter any alliance with the SNS and the DSS, or with the Serb Radicals (SRS) on the local level. According to him, the DS has decided to form a new government on the principles of "European integrations, modern values, new enthusiasm and great solidarity, as well as caring for the poor and fighting to increase employment." If there is no agreement on such principles, said Micunovic, the Democratic Party will become an opposition party. "The Democratic Party is determined not to run away from responsibility, but also not to abandon its pro-European course that it took 22 years ago," he was quoted as saying. (Tanjug) B92 Beta Tanjug

DS leader Tadić says party backed his principles

Tadić also announced that "changes" would happen within his party in the wake of the May 6 presidential elections - when a coalition gathered around the party finished second with 67 parliamentary seats, and the presidential runoff on May 20, when he lost his bid to be elected for a third term in office to then SNS party leader Tomislav Nikolić.

The struggle to form a majority in the parliament is underway and the days ahead are of key importance, Tadić said told the gathering this evening.

"We have to see with whom we can form the government, and with whom we can establish local administrations, bearing in mind the interests of the people," he said.

The Democratic Party makes every effort about setting the goals of the future government, which does not mean that the other parties are not trying to form a majority, Tadić said, stressing that the DS will "definitely not take part in any such coalition".

He once again ruled out an alliance with the Serb Progressives (SNS), or the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS).

Tadić said that the Democrats "do not give up" as they "promised to the citizens the fight against poverty and unemployment and combating corruption as the two key objectives of a future government".

He added that the election results "will be good" - if his party manages to form a parliamentary majority.

If someone else forms a government, Serbia's EU path will not be certain, said Tadić, adding that the Democrats are facing tough decisions and that the situation in the country is difficult, but not catastrophic as some claim.

Tadić, who accepted his party's nomination to become the next prime minister, said he was willing to take that responsibility in case the Democratic Party takes over the responsibility on all government levels and backs him fully.

Tadić said that the DS believes the government can be constituted only with those willing to share both the good and the bad and those who have no backup policy.

"The DS has no intention whatsoever of constituting the new government with parties that did not participate in the previous government and were not willing to share both the good and the bad," Tadić noted, speaking about the choice of a third coalition partner that would join his party and the Socialists (SPS) and their pre-election coalition.

Tadić reiterated that it was "certain the position of the government partner would not be offered to the Serb Progressive Party or the Democratic Party of Serbia" and that "talks with other potential partners would be initiated immediately after the session of the Main Board if he wins the support of other members".

Tadić added that he wished to reiterate the same statement he made before the elections - that the DS will forge a government coalition only with parties of similar orientation and there can be no compromise as regards "European integration, quality of macroeconomic policy and savings where needed, but the latter would be made on the government level and not on the level of citizens".

The leader of the Democrats also said that "there will be time to analyze election results", and that, as a consequence, "changes will take place within the party".

After the main board ended its meeting, Tadić said that the party had supported him in his bid to head a new government on the principles that he had laid out.

The meeting lasted nearly three hours, with the discussion taking place mostly behind closed doors. When he emerged from the session Tadić first said he did not wish to make any statements, but then stopped and told reporters: "Did I receive the support? Yes, I received it."

DS Political Council Chairman Dragoljub Mićunović said that the debate today was "lively", and that the conclusion was that Tadić, as candidate for prime minister, should continue negotiations on forming a new government, but that the Democrats would not enter any alliance with the SNS and the DSS, or with the Serb Radicals (SRS) on the local level.

According to him, the DS has decided to form a new government on the principles of "European integrations, modern values, new enthusiasm and great solidarity, as well as caring for the poor and fighting to increase employment."

If there is no agreement on such principles, said Mićunović, the Democratic Party will become an opposition party.

"The Democratic Party is determined not to run away from responsibility, but also not to abandon its pro-European course that it took 22 years ago," he was quoted as saying.