Democrats reveal who they "can form govt. with"

High ranking official of the Democrats (DS) Dragan Djilas has said that his party wished to join "others who shared its European values" in a new government. Djilas, who has been reelected as Belgrade mayor in Sunday's election, revealed that this meant the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS)-led coalition, as well as Mladjan Dinkic's United Regions of Serbia (URS), and Cedomir Jovanovic's Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP) and their pre-election coalition. Democrats reveal who they "can form govt. with" At the same time, he ruled out an alliance with the Serb Progressive Party (SNS), which won the most mandates in Serbia's new parliament - 73 - compared to the Democrats' 67 seats. Djilas also commented on the second round of the presidential election, which will see DS and SNS leaders, Boris Tadic and Tomislav Nikolic, pitted against each other: "I expect as many people as possible to turn out to vote on May 20, and support everything Boris Tadic has done so far as president of Serbia, rather than as president of the DS. I expect them to enable him to become Serbia's president for the third time." Meanwhile, Belgrade-based tabloid Press is writing that SPS leader Ivica Dacic - who came in third in the presidential ballot - will endorse Tadic, and quoting him as saying that this would be "a logical continuation of their cooperation", but that he also expects "at least a general agreement on a new government" to be made before the second round. In a statement for the media during the election night, Dacic hinted that he expects to be Serbia's next prime minister. Dacic also told the tabloid that his party would be willing to join a government with the URS - but not with the LDP - "not before their position on Kosovo and the Serb Republic (RS) has been cleared up". Speaking for B92 TV late on Monday, deputy leader of the SNS Aleksandar Vucic said that his party "cannot form a government with the DS". Cedomir Jovanovic, on the other hand, "stated indirectly" that he would support Tadic in the second round, and that "there would be no blackmail" attached to that. "If there's anything we need to talk about it's the job that needs to be done in Serbia," the LDP leader noted. On Monday, the state election commission (RIK) said that based on results from 97.51 percent of all polling stations, the SPS-led coalition came in third in the parliamentary race and will have 44 mandates. They are followed by Vojislav Kostunica's DSS with 21 mandates, the LDP coalition with 20, and the URS with 16. The Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) will have five seats, Sulejman Ugljanin's SDA will have two, while two other ethnic minority lists will be represented by one MP each. A future government must secure the support of at least 126 MPs in Serbia's 250-seat parliament in order to be voted to office. Djilas is seen during the campaing (Tanjug, file) B92

Democrats reveal who they "can form govt. with"

At the same time, he ruled out an alliance with the Serb Progressive Party (SNS), which won the most mandates in Serbia's new parliament - 73 - compared to the Democrats' 67 seats.

Đilas also commented on the second round of the presidential election, which will see DS and SNS leaders, Boris Tadić and Tomislav Nikolić, pitted against each other:

"I expect as many people as possible to turn out to vote on May 20, and support everything Boris Tadić has done so far as president of Serbia, rather than as president of the DS. I expect them to enable him to become Serbia's president for the third time."

Meanwhile, Belgrade-based tabloid Press is writing that SPS leader Ivica Dačić - who came in third in the presidential ballot - will endorse Tadić, and quoting him as saying that this would be "a logical continuation of their cooperation", but that he also expects "at least a general agreement on a new government" to be made before the second round.

In a statement for the media during the election night, Dačić hinted that he expects to be Serbia's next prime minister.

Dačić also told the tabloid that his party would be willing to join a government with the URS - but not with the LDP - "not before their position on Kosovo and the Serb Republic (RS) has been cleared up".

Speaking for B92 TV late on Monday, deputy leader of the SNS Aleksandar Vučić said that his party "cannot form a government with the DS".

Čedomir Jovanović, on the other hand, "stated indirectly" that he would support Tadić in the second round, and that "there would be no blackmail" attached to that.

"If there's anything we need to talk about it's the job that needs to be done in Serbia," the LDP leader noted.

On Monday, the state election commission (RIK) said that based on results from 97.51 percent of all polling stations, the SPS-led coalition came in third in the parliamentary race and will have 44 mandates.

They are followed by Vojislav Koštunica's DSS with 21 mandates, the LDP coalition with 20, and the URS with 16.

The Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) will have five seats, Sulejman Ugljanin's SDA will have two, while two other ethnic minority lists will be represented by one MP each.

A future government must secure the support of at least 126 MPs in Serbia's 250-seat parliament in order to be voted to office.