"Difference between election favorites reduces"

Ipsos Strategic Marketing Director Srdjan Bogosavljevic said on Monday the difference in the support for the SNS and the DS parties had narrowed recently. This came after Serbia received the EU candidate status and the announcements of pre-election coalitions, he stated. "Difference between election favorites reduces" The opposition Serb Progressives (SNS) poll as Serbia's most popular party, followed by the ruling Democrats (DS). Current research indicates that the DS is most likely to form a new government after the May 6 parliamentary elections, Bogosavljevic stated. The SNS has less coalition capability for after the elections compared to the DS, Bogosavljevic told Tanjug. He also believes the parties around the SNS are weaker than those in the DS coalition. Commenting on what other parties or coalitions besides those gathered around the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) could significantly impact the election results, he responded that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the U Turn coalition could do it. There is a large possibility of a surprise at the poll, because only 3 million people out of 4.5 million with a right to vote have made up their mind, he explained. According to Bogosavljevic, there is a theoretical possibility that no party will be able to form the government, or that it will be formed by the SNS and DS, but he thinks it unlikely. When asked if the presidential election should be held along with all the others, on May 6, he answered it was an issue for political analysts, but that the people would like to have all the elections at the same time. He stated lower cost of organization and campaigns as a reason to have all the elections at the same time, but stressed the fact that it would be costly to lose time after Serbia had become a candidate for EU membership. As a counter argument, he pointed out the harm of having the president end his term at the same time the parliament and government do it. Another reason against holding the elections at the same time is the fact that there is going to be a small vacuum at one point, when there will be no parliament, fully functioning government nor president, he noted. It would be a short period in which Serbia would be in limbo, he concluded. Tanjug

"Difference between election favorites reduces"

The opposition Serb Progressives (SNS) poll as Serbia's most popular party, followed by the ruling Democrats (DS).

Current research indicates that the DS is most likely to form a new government after the May 6 parliamentary elections, Bogosavljević stated.

The SNS has less coalition capability for after the elections compared to the DS, Bogosavljevic told Tanjug. He also believes the parties around the SNS are weaker than those in the DS coalition.

Commenting on what other parties or coalitions besides those gathered around the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) could significantly impact the election results, he responded that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the U Turn coalition could do it.

There is a large possibility of a surprise at the poll, because only 3 million people out of 4.5 million with a right to vote have made up their mind, he explained.

According to Bogosavljevic, there is a theoretical possibility that no party will be able to form the government, or that it will be formed by the SNS and DS, but he thinks it unlikely.

When asked if the presidential election should be held along with all the others, on May 6, he answered it was an issue for political analysts, but that the people would like to have all the elections at the same time.

He stated lower cost of organization and campaigns as a reason to have all the elections at the same time, but stressed the fact that it would be costly to lose time after Serbia had become a candidate for EU membership.

As a counter argument, he pointed out the harm of having the president end his term at the same time the parliament and government do it.

Another reason against holding the elections at the same time is the fact that there is going to be a small vacuum at one point, when there will be no parliament, fully functioning government nor president, he noted. It would be a short period in which Serbia would be in limbo, he concluded.