"Russians bringing Socialists and Progressives closer"

The same day that they met with the Democrats (DS) to negotiate a government, leaders of the SPS-led coalition also talked with the Progressives (SNS). This is according to an article in the Belgrade-based daily Politika, which also claims that the second meeting on Monday focused on forming a government that would make Ivica Dacic prime minister, "and allow him to keep the portfolios he now has". "Russians bringing Socialists and Progressives closer" The article also seems to suggest that Dacic is working on bringing the URS into a government, along with the LDP - a government that would be forged by the coalitions led by the Socialists (SPS) and the Democrats. According to this newspaper, it was after he returned from his trip to Russia that Dacic "said for the first time" that a future government must not depend only on the Liberal-Democrats (LDP), but that the United Regions of Serbia (URS) should also join. The daily adds, basing its claims on "unofficial information", that this position held by Dacic was "to a fair degree influenced by Governor of Moscow and former Russian Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu". Polika further writes that several SPS officials "repeated the story about the need to have as large as possible parliamentary majority in order to have a stable government", while DS official and Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas "would seek solutions in order for the URS to join". The newspaper notes that the negotiations between the DS and the SPS are yet to clarify who would join them in a government, and quotes more unofficial information, according to which "once the DS reaches agreement with the LDP and the URS, talks will focus on the distribution of ministries, and people who will head them". Ivica Dacic, Tomislav Nikolic (file) Politika Tanjug

"Russians bringing Socialists and Progressives closer"

The article also seems to suggest that Dačić is working on bringing the URS into a government, along with the LDP - a government that would be forged by the coalitions led by the Socialists (SPS) and the Democrats.

According to this newspaper, it was after he returned from his trip to Russia that Dačić "said for the first time" that a future government must not depend only on the Liberal-Democrats (LDP), but that the United Regions of Serbia (URS) should also join.

The daily adds, basing its claims on "unofficial information", that this position held by Dačić was "to a fair degree influenced by Governor of Moscow and former Russian Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu".

Polika further writes that several SPS officials "repeated the story about the need to have as large as possible parliamentary majority in order to have a stable government", while DS official and Belgrade Mayor Dragan Đilas "would seek solutions in order for the URS to join".

The newspaper notes that the negotiations between the DS and the SPS are yet to clarify who would join them in a government, and quotes more unofficial information, according to which "once the DS reaches agreement with the LDP and the URS, talks will focus on the distribution of ministries, and people who will head them".