Coalition partners expect clear backing from Koštunica

Two days after the first round, presidential candidates are focusing on the all important endorsements. President Boris Tadic's Democratic Party (DS) deputy president and defense minister in the Kostunica cabinet, Dragan Sutanovac, says he expects the prime minister's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) to offer clear support for the incumbent in the sencond round of the presidnetial ballot on Feb. 3. Coalition partners expect clear backing from Kostunica Sutanovac told Danas daily that this support needs to be based on the very principles that helped form the government last May, where the two parties are coalition partners. One of these principles is Serbia's EU integration. "This will be a clear enough message for all those who are perhaps wondering whether Vojislav Kostunica wants Serbia in Europe, or not," he said, and added he expects a "tight race" in the vote, less that two weeks away. According to Sutanovac, citizens will choose between two "absolutely conflicting policies" and two clear roads that Serbia can take, when they go to the polls and cast their ballots in the run-off between Boris Tadic and Tomislav Nikolic, of the Radicals (SRS). "I expect support from all the parties that see Serbia in Europe, such as the LDP, and the Vojvodina Hungarians' parties, which backed Istvan Pastor." "I expect a part of the Socialist Party of Serbia voters to support us too. I expected the DSS and Prime Minister Kostunicato to be behind us in the first round. I think they made a mistake, and I believe in their backing in the second round," Sutanovac explained for the newspaper. But in reference to possible conditioning of support from Cedomir Jovanovic's LDP, he refused the possibility that the Democrats would accept endorsement which would mean that the country will become "chaotic and unstable." Meanwhile, New Serbia leader and infrastructure minister, Velimir Ilic, who also ran in the election, says he "will not blackmail" either of the candidates that made it to the run-off. He told Vecernje Novosti daily that an announcement could be made as early as today as to which candidate will gain his endorsement, and that he "will not ask for anything in return." Ilic has won 7.38 percent of votes in the first round Sunday. Ilic also explained that although this decision will be made by his party, he "may also consult with Kostunica." His cabinet colleague, G17 Plus leader and Economy Minister Mladjan Dinkic, who stood firmly behind Tadic, says that Kostunica will naturally support the president in his bid to win the second term in office, "bearing in mind the coalition government." Dinkic was interviewed by the Vienna-based newspaper Die Presse when he said he was confident Tadic would win the run-off. "It will be a hard battle. However, in the election four years ago the situation was the same. Tadic also came in second in the first round, and then won the ballot." "I believe that the voters who have cast their ballot for candidates that didn't make it to the second round will now vote for Tadic, even if party leaders do not publicly call on them to do so," he explained. "These elections will be a referendum on the EU. Votes cast for Tadic will be votes for Europe, while those that go to Nikolic mean insecurity and slow growth for Serbia." "I am convinced that only a minority of voters will support the latter option. Tadic will win once again," Dinkic voiced vigorous support for his ally.

Coalition partners expect clear backing from Koštunica

Šutanovac told Danas daily that this support needs to be based on the very principles that helped form the government last May, where the two parties are coalition partners.

One of these principles is Serbia's EU integration.

"This will be a clear enough message for all those who are perhaps wondering whether Vojislav Koštunica wants Serbia in Europe, or not," he said, and added he expects a "tight race" in the vote, less that two weeks away.

According to Šutanovac, citizens will choose between two "absolutely conflicting policies" and two clear roads that Serbia can take, when they go to the polls and cast their ballots in the run-off between Boris Tadić and Tomislav Nikolić, of the Radicals (SRS).

"I expect support from all the parties that see Serbia in Europe, such as the LDP, and the Vojvodina Hungarians' parties, which backed Istvan Pastor."

"I expect a part of the Socialist Party of Serbia voters to support us too. I expected the DSS and Prime Minister Koštunicato to be behind us in the first round. I think they made a mistake, and I believe in their backing in the second round," Šutanovac explained for the newspaper.

But in reference to possible conditioning of support from Čedomir Jovanović's LDP, he refused the possibility that the Democrats would accept endorsement which would mean that the country will become "chaotic and unstable."

Meanwhile, New Serbia leader and infrastructure minister, Velimir Ilić, who also ran in the election, says he "will not blackmail" either of the candidates that made it to the run-off.

He told Večernje Novosti daily that an announcement could be made as early as today as to which candidate will gain his endorsement, and that he "will not ask for anything in return."

Ilić has won 7.38 percent of votes in the first round Sunday.

Ilić also explained that although this decision will be made by his party, he "may also consult with Koštunica."

His cabinet colleague, G17 Plus leader and Economy Minister Mlađan Dinkić, who stood firmly behind Tadić, says that Koštunica will naturally support the president in his bid to win the second term in office, "bearing in mind the coalition government."

Dinkić was interviewed by the Vienna-based newspaper Die Presse when he said he was confident Tadić would win the run-off.

"It will be a hard battle. However, in the election four years ago the situation was the same. Tadić also came in second in the first round, and then won the ballot."

"I believe that the voters who have cast their ballot for candidates that didn't make it to the second round will now vote for Tadić, even if party leaders do not publicly call on them to do so," he explained.

"These elections will be a referendum on the EU. Votes cast for Tadić will be votes for Europe, while those that go to Nikolić mean insecurity and slow growth for Serbia."

"I am convinced that only a minority of voters will support the latter option. Tadić will win once again," Dinkić voiced vigorous support for his ally.