G17 Plus: Govt. from Thursday

G17 Plus leader Mladjan Dinkic says that the process of forming a new government will begin on Thursday. “The election of the new government should begin on Thursday with the adoption of a law on the government and ministries,” Dinkic told reporters during a break at the G17 Plus main board meeting, where he proposed to party members the formation of a government made up of the “For a European Serbia” coalition, the coalition grouped around the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), and minority parties. G17 Plus: Govt. from Thursday The G17 Plus is leader is sure that a similar coalition will be formed at Belgrade local level, and in the Serbia’s other major cities. “I’ve received guarantees from the Democratic Party (DS) that the same majority will be formed in Belgrade as at republic level, and we’re already discussing a division of responsibilities in the capital,” he said. The SPS said earlier that after its main board’s decision to support a coalition government with the DS, the only uncertainty was the issue of personnel within the new cabinet. Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leader Ivica Dacic said after the session that it had been a “difficult decision“, but pointed out that the SPS had already taken a similar decision in the past, in 2004, to support a then minority Democratic Opposition of Serbia government. “We’re not looking to support anyone here. We want to be an equal partner in pursuing Serbia’s state policy, and that was what guided us in taking the decision to form a parliamentary majority with the Democratic Party (DS). We expect all state bodies stemming from such a decision to be formed very quickly,“ said Dacic. “As far as the SPS is concerned, it has not taken a decision either for the DS, or against the Democratic Party of Serbia, or against the Serb Radical Party. We’ve taken a decision for Serbia and for the SPS,“ said the Socialist leader. However, he did not want to comment on personnel issues within the government. He did say that the DS would provide the prime minister, without saying who the SPS would most like to see in that position. “The post of prime minister belongs to the DS, in the same way that we’re not thinking about who from the SPS would be acceptable to the DS,“said Dacic. The SPS leader is sure that his party will provide the parliamentary speaker. The speaker is due to be selected at today’s resumption of parliament’s constitutive session, which is scheduled to begin at 16:00 CET. Meanwhile, President Boris Tadic will most probably announce the name of the new government’s prime minister today, and according to Beta’s well-informed sources, the two main contenders are Vuk Jeremic, the foreign minister in the previous government, and Finance Minister Mirko Cvetkovic. Cvetkovic confirmed yesterday that talks were under way over him becoming the new prime minister, but he did not wish to go into any details. According to Beta’s sources, Jeremic is the more likely of the two, though Tadic will make his final decision at the meeting of the Democratic Party Presidency, which is currently under way. The DS leadership will look into personnel appointments in the future government, parliament and other senior state functions. The president is expected to submit a report on talks with the future coalition partners, the coalition grouped around the Socialists, and also with the other members of the “For a European Serbia“ coalition. Tadic held parallel talks with the Socialists and the rest of the “For a European Serbia“ coalition’s parties, but there was no word as to a final agreement on personnel issues. Mladjan Dinkic (FoNet, archive) EU: Good news The EU has also welcomed the news that the SPS is ready to participate in the pro-European government led by the Democratic Party. European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said that he was still waiting for President Boris Tadic to make it official, adding that he had heard “good news” from Serbia. “Now there’s a real chance for Serbia to have a pro-EU government, and I am looking forward to cooperating with it,” Rehn said in Brussels, where he is participating in a conference on European policy towards the Balkans. Presevo Valley Albanian MP Riza Halimi said earlier today that he would support the government formed by the DS-led coalition and the coalition of parties gathered around the SPS, but added that Albanian representatives from the south of Serbia would not participate in it. “There’s no doubt we will support the pro-EU government,” said Halimi. He added that he had not met Tadic to negotiate over possible participation. “We think that problems should be solved from local authority level. The most important thing is to thoroughly reconstruct the Coordination Body for Southern Serbia, so we can begin to solve the problems of Albanians living in that region,” said Halimi.

G17 Plus: Govt. from Thursday

The G17 Plus is leader is sure that a similar coalition will be formed at Belgrade local level, and in the Serbia’s other major cities.

“I’ve received guarantees from the Democratic Party (DS) that the same majority will be formed in Belgrade as at republic level, and we’re already discussing a division of responsibilities in the capital,” he said.

The SPS said earlier that after its main board’s decision to support a coalition government with the DS, the only uncertainty was the issue of personnel within the new cabinet.

Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leader Ivica Dačić said after the session that it had been a “difficult decision“, but pointed out that the SPS had already taken a similar decision in the past, in 2004, to support a then minority Democratic Opposition of Serbia government. “We’re not looking to support anyone here. We want to be an equal partner in pursuing Serbia’s state policy, and that was what guided us in taking the decision to form a parliamentary majority with the Democratic Party (DS). We expect all state bodies stemming from such a decision to be formed very quickly,“ said Dačić.

“As far as the SPS is concerned, it has not taken a decision either for the DS, or against the Democratic Party of Serbia, or against the Serb Radical Party. We’ve taken a decision for Serbia and for the SPS,“ said the Socialist leader.

However, he did not want to comment on personnel issues within the government. He did say that the DS would provide the prime minister, without saying who the SPS would most like to see in that position.

“The post of prime minister belongs to the DS, in the same way that we’re not thinking about who from the SPS would be acceptable to the DS,“said Dačić.

The SPS leader is sure that his party will provide the parliamentary speaker. The speaker is due to be selected at today’s resumption of parliament’s constitutive session, which is scheduled to begin at 16:00 CET.

Meanwhile, President Boris Tadić will most probably announce the name of the new government’s prime minister today, and according to Beta’s well-informed sources, the two main contenders are Vuk Jeremić, the foreign minister in the previous government, and Finance Minister Mirko Cvetković.

Cvetković confirmed yesterday that talks were under way over him becoming the new prime minister, but he did not wish to go into any details.

According to Beta’s sources, Jeremić is the more likely of the two, though Tadić will make his final decision at the meeting of the Democratic Party Presidency, which is currently under way.

The DS leadership will look into personnel appointments in the future government, parliament and other senior state functions.

The president is expected to submit a report on talks with the future coalition partners, the coalition grouped around the Socialists, and also with the other members of the “For a European Serbia“ coalition.

Tadić held parallel talks with the Socialists and the rest of the “For a European Serbia“ coalition’s parties, but there was no word as to a final agreement on personnel issues.

EU: Good news

The EU has also welcomed the news that the SPS is ready to participate in the pro-European government led by the Democratic Party.

European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said that he was still waiting for President Boris Tadić to make it official, adding that he had heard “good news” from Serbia.

“Now there’s a real chance for Serbia to have a pro-EU government, and I am looking forward to cooperating with it,” Rehn said in Brussels, where he is participating in a conference on European policy towards the Balkans.

Preševo Valley Albanian MP Riza Halimi said earlier today that he would support the government formed by the DS-led coalition and the coalition of parties gathered around the SPS, but added that Albanian representatives from the south of Serbia would not participate in it.

“There’s no doubt we will support the pro-EU government,” said Halimi.

He added that he had not met Tadić to negotiate over possible participation.

“We think that problems should be solved from local authority level. The most important thing is to thoroughly reconstruct the Coordination Body for Southern Serbia, so we can begin to solve the problems of Albanians living in that region,” said Halimi.