Tadić: Coalition first, PM later

President and Democratic Party (DS) leader Boris Tadic says that he will name his choice for prime minister once the composition of the new government is known. “The most important thing is for the new government to carry out the policy that Serbia has voted for. Once the composition of the government is clear, I will decide which figure best links all the parties, and create a team that will begin to solve citizens’ problems in an effective manner,“ Tadic told daily Novosti. Tadic: Coalition first, PM later The new prime minister has to be accessible to the people, to understand their hardships and problems, to create a future and ensure equal opportunities for all, said the president. He said that he was an optimist in his belief that the citizens’ will would be fully respected, and that the new government would carry out a policy that the majority of citizens had voted for, both at the presidential and parliamentary ballots. Tadic said that the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and the parties grouped around it, had shown responsibility and a wish for Serbia to work with the world, as opposed to argue and fight with it. “They too are committed to an economically powerful country that will have the capacity to defend her integrity and sovereignty, her Kosovo, and which will carry out the necessary reforms and establish a principle of social justice in society,“ said the president. The DS, he said, would invest maximum efforts in order to form a government as swiftly as possible that would fight for both national interests, and for the interests of every Serbian citizen. Meanwhile, contrary to expectations, last night’s meeting of the SPS main board did not spring any great surprises. After the meeting, all that could be heard was the now perfunctory talk of a resumption of talks on forming a government with the Democratic Party of Serbia and the Serb Radical Party (SRS), and negotiations over a united policy within the coalition. The only new development was that the SPS confirmed its list of 12 future MPs in the new parliament—the last party to do so. Party leader Ivica Dacic said after the meeting that before there was any final agreement, a joint policy had to be confirmed among the parties grouped round the SPS. Without a united position within the coalition over forming a parliamentary majority, none will be formed, said Dacic. He said that coalitions with various parties were already being formed at various levels of power, though he left the door open to a u-turn in Belgrade. “Generally, I think that that issue has to be agreed on when a coalition agreement on forming a republic government is being drawn up,“ said the Socialist leader. Boris Tadic (FoNet, archive)

Tadić: Coalition first, PM later

The new prime minister has to be accessible to the people, to understand their hardships and problems, to create a future and ensure equal opportunities for all, said the president.

He said that he was an optimist in his belief that the citizens’ will would be fully respected, and that the new government would carry out a policy that the majority of citizens had voted for, both at the presidential and parliamentary ballots.

Tadić said that the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and the parties grouped around it, had shown responsibility and a wish for Serbia to work with the world, as opposed to argue and fight with it.

“They too are committed to an economically powerful country that will have the capacity to defend her integrity and sovereignty, her Kosovo, and which will carry out the necessary reforms and establish a principle of social justice in society,“ said the president.

The DS, he said, would invest maximum efforts in order to form a government as swiftly as possible that would fight for both national interests, and for the interests of every Serbian citizen.

Meanwhile, contrary to expectations, last night’s meeting of the SPS main board did not spring any great surprises.

After the meeting, all that could be heard was the now perfunctory talk of a resumption of talks on forming a government with the Democratic Party of Serbia and the Serb Radical Party (SRS), and negotiations over a united policy within the coalition.

The only new development was that the SPS confirmed its list of 12 future MPs in the new parliament—the last party to do so.

Party leader Ivica Dačić said after the meeting that before there was any final agreement, a joint policy had to be confirmed among the parties grouped round the SPS.

Without a united position within the coalition over forming a parliamentary majority, none will be formed, said Dačić.

He said that coalitions with various parties were already being formed at various levels of power, though he left the door open to a u-turn in Belgrade.

“Generally, I think that that issue has to be agreed on when a coalition agreement on forming a republic government is being drawn up,“ said the Socialist leader.