Šešelj backs SRS-DSS-SPS govt. talks

The Serb Radical Party (SRS) officials say their leader, now at the Hague Tribunal accused of war crimes, supports their bid to form a ruling coalition. The Radicals are involved in ongoing talks with the Democratic Party of Serbia-New Serbia (DSS-NS) coalition, as well as that gathered around the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS). Seselj backs SRS-DSS-SPS govt. talks SPS leader Ivica Dacic has confirmed this afternoon that the talks will continue tomorrow. It was announced earlier that Dacic, who returned from a visit to Moscow, would meet today with the SRS and DSS-NS representatives. Previously, they agreed on principles that would guide the new cabinet, and are now negotiating a coalition agreement. A one-day pause in the talks was used yesterday by the leader of the Democrats (DS) Boris Tadic to argue his case. The five-party coalition gathered around the DS won the most votes, but is short of a 126 MP majority necessary to form a new government. But Tadic announced the Democrats have also started government coalition talks, and added they will soon reveal the name of their candidate for next premier. In the race for the seats in the next parliament, the DS-led group of parties won 102 mandates, followed by the SRS with 78, and the DSS-NS with 30. The SPS coalition won 20 seats, while the LDP will have 13 lawmakers representing it. The Hungarian Coalition, the Bosniak List and the Albanian Coalition won four, two and one seat respectively. Meanwhile, SRS president Vojislav Seselj has expressed his agreement with the deal reached between the SRS, DSS and SPS negotiators so far, in their bid to take over power in the country and in city and municipal assemblies throughout Serbia. This was confirmed today by high ranking SRS official Dragan Todorovic. He, along with deputy party president Tomislav Nikolic, traveled to The Hague to visit Seselj earlier this week. "Vojislav Seselj is extremely satisfied with the results that the Serb Radical Party achieved in the parliamentary and local elections, because we are still the strongest political party in Serbia," Todorovic said. According to him, Seselj is "particularly looking forward" to the possibility of the Radicals reaching agreement with the DSS-NS and SPS-led coalition and some ethnic minority parties, which would enable them to rule in almost 90 percent of Serbian municipalities. "Seselj also commented on President Boris Tadic's behavior who, according to his appraisal, has completely lost his head, aware of his huge defeat," said Todorovic. A file photo of Seselj, Nikolic in parliament (FoNet) Belgrade deal more likely Meanwhile in Belgrade, where the DS coalition also emerged from the city assembly ballot with the most votes but no majority, the SRS-DSS-SPS talks are progressing, and are expected to end with a coalition agreement that will produce the new mayor of Belgrade, likely to be Radical Aleksandar Vucic. However, the parties involved in the talks have not given any clear deadline for this to materialize. The guests on tonight's Impression of the Week – hosted by Olja Beckovic, broadcast on B92 TV and streamed live over the internet – include Zarko Obradovic (SPS), Slobodan Samardzic (DSS) and Bojan Pajtic (DS).

Šešelj backs SRS-DSS-SPS govt. talks

SPS leader Ivica Dačić has confirmed this afternoon that the talks will continue tomorrow.

It was announced earlier that Dačić, who returned from a visit to Moscow, would meet today with the SRS and DSS-NS representatives.

Previously, they agreed on principles that would guide the new cabinet, and are now negotiating a coalition agreement.

A one-day pause in the talks was used yesterday by the leader of the Democrats (DS) Boris Tadić to argue his case. The five-party coalition gathered around the DS won the most votes, but is short of a 126 MP majority necessary to form a new government.

But Tadić announced the Democrats have also started government coalition talks, and added they will soon reveal the name of their candidate for next premier.

In the race for the seats in the next parliament, the DS-led group of parties won 102 mandates, followed by the SRS with 78, and the DSS-NS with 30.

The SPS coalition won 20 seats, while the LDP will have 13 lawmakers representing it. The Hungarian Coalition, the Bosniak List and the Albanian Coalition won four, two and one seat respectively.

Meanwhile, SRS president Vojislav Šešelj has expressed his agreement with the deal reached between the SRS, DSS and SPS negotiators so far, in their bid to take over power in the country and in city and municipal assemblies throughout Serbia.

This was confirmed today by high ranking SRS official Dragan Todorović.

He, along with deputy party president Tomislav Nikolić, traveled to The Hague to visit Šešelj earlier this week.

"Vojislav Šešelj is extremely satisfied with the results that the Serb Radical Party achieved in the parliamentary and local elections, because we are still the strongest political party in Serbia," Todorović said.

According to him, Šešelj is "particularly looking forward" to the possibility of the Radicals reaching agreement with the DSS-NS and SPS-led coalition and some ethnic minority parties, which would enable them to rule in almost 90 percent of Serbian municipalities.

"Šešelj also commented on President Boris Tadić's behavior who, according to his appraisal, has completely lost his head, aware of his huge defeat," said Todorović.

Belgrade deal more likely

Meanwhile in Belgrade, where the DS coalition also emerged from the city assembly ballot with the most votes but no majority, the SRS-DSS-SPS talks are progressing, and are expected to end with a coalition agreement that will produce the new mayor of Belgrade, likely to be Radical Aleksandar Vučić.

However, the parties involved in the talks have not given any clear deadline for this to materialize.

The guests on tonight's Impression of the Week – hosted by Olja Bećković, broadcast on B92 TV and streamed live over the internet – include Žarko Obradović (SPS), Slobodan Samardžić (DSS) and Bojan Pajtić (DS).