Parliamentary elections scheduled for May 6

Serbian President Boris Tadic announced on Tuesday at the presidency building in Belgrade that parliamentary elections in the country will be held on May 6. Serbians will therefore go to the polls on a widely-celebrated patron saint day, St. George (Djurdjevdan). Parliamentary elections scheduled for May 6 Also on Tuesday, presidents of the state parliament and Vojvodina's provincial assembly officially scheduled local and provincial level elections for May 6. Although there has been speculation to the contrary, Tadic was not expected to today also schedule early presidential elections. However, if the intention of the authorities is for new president to be elected concurrently with local assemblies and new parliament - the presidential vote will have to be called by April 7 at the latest. Political parties now have until April 21 to submit their election lists for the parliametary ballot, while the State Election Commission (RIK) will announce the final list of participants five days after that. The commission will announce the final results of elections within three days of their holding. Within the subsequent 30 days, the Serbian parliament must meet and verify mandates of newly elected MPs. Since elections have been called for May 6, the Serbian parliament must meet on June 9 at the latest, while the deadline for a new government to be formed in Serbia is September 8. Parties must win more than five percent of overall votes in order to win seats in parliament - all except those representing ethnic minorities, to whom applies the rule of "natural threshold that depends on the turnout". In previous elections, 15,000 votes on average were necessary for each parliament seat won by ethnic minorities. Serbia's parliamentary electoral system is proportional, with the whole country treated as one election unit, with parties and their candidates competing for mandates in the 250-seat unicameral parliament. The ninth parliamentary election since Serbia introduced a multi-party system will be held under an amended law that abolishes blank resignations signed by MPs, and requires that at least one third of all candidates on election lists must be women. Parties will also not be able to choose their MPs after elections, because seats will be given to those already on the list, and in order in which they are listed. For the first time, Serbia will have a unique electronic database of voters. Boris Tadic is seen in Belgrade on Tuesday (Tanjug) "Once again strengthening democracy" Boris Tadic scheduled the elections today and addressed the public to say that they will be "an opportunity to once again strengthen democracy in Serbia and for the people to choose a better future". "Elections are always a formal occasion. For years and decades we fought to establish democracy in Serbia, but today we have a different environment and I believe we can unite around some central strategic goals during the election process," he told reporters gathered at the presidency. Elections will be another chance to strengthen the democratic principles and for the people of Serbia to "prove to themselves and others that their country is a land of liberty", according to Tadic. "The people will have an opportunity to strengthen institutions, and the government should be formed right after the completion of the election process, so it could tackle the difficult situation the country is in," he remarked. "The future government will have to make hard and complex decisions to ensure a better future for the people," Tadic stated. He called on the people to vote in the poll and reaffirm the democratic character of the Serbian society, and choose a better future. Tadic, who is also leader of the ruling Democratic Party (DS), stated that he wished that political parties who will compete for the citizens' votes would "promote their programs and democracy". B92 Beta Tanjug

Parliamentary elections scheduled for May 6

Also on Tuesday, presidents of the state parliament and Vojvodina's provincial assembly officially scheduled local and provincial level elections for May 6.

Although there has been speculation to the contrary, Tadić was not expected to today also schedule early presidential elections.

However, if the intention of the authorities is for new president to be elected concurrently with local assemblies and new parliament - the presidential vote will have to be called by April 7 at the latest.

Political parties now have until April 21 to submit their election lists for the parliametary ballot, while the State Election Commission (RIK) will announce the final list of participants five days after that.

The commission will announce the final results of elections within three days of their holding. Within the subsequent 30 days, the Serbian parliament must meet and verify mandates of newly elected MPs.

Since elections have been called for May 6, the Serbian parliament must meet on June 9 at the latest, while the deadline for a new government to be formed in Serbia is September 8.

Parties must win more than five percent of overall votes in order to win seats in parliament - all except those representing ethnic minorities, to whom applies the rule of "natural threshold that depends on the turnout".

In previous elections, 15,000 votes on average were necessary for each parliament seat won by ethnic minorities.

Serbia's parliamentary electoral system is proportional, with the whole country treated as one election unit, with parties and their candidates competing for mandates in the 250-seat unicameral parliament.

The ninth parliamentary election since Serbia introduced a multi-party system will be held under an amended law that abolishes blank resignations signed by MPs, and requires that at least one third of all candidates on election lists must be women.

Parties will also not be able to choose their MPs after elections, because seats will be given to those already on the list, and in order in which they are listed.

For the first time, Serbia will have a unique electronic database of voters.

"Once again strengthening democracy"

Boris Tadić scheduled the elections today and addressed the public to say that they will be "an opportunity to once again strengthen democracy in Serbia and for the people to choose a better future".

"Elections are always a formal occasion. For years and decades we fought to establish democracy in Serbia, but today we have a different environment and I believe we can unite around some central strategic goals during the election process," he told reporters gathered at the presidency.

Elections will be another chance to strengthen the democratic principles and for the people of Serbia to "prove to themselves and others that their country is a land of liberty", according to Tadić.

"The people will have an opportunity to strengthen institutions, and the government should be formed right after the completion of the election process, so it could tackle the difficult situation the country is in," he remarked.

"The future government will have to make hard and complex decisions to ensure a better future for the people," Tadić stated.

He called on the people to vote in the poll and reaffirm the democratic character of the Serbian society, and choose a better future.

Tadić, who is also leader of the ruling Democratic Party (DS), stated that he wished that political parties who will compete for the citizens' votes would "promote their programs and democracy".