SPS leader "not interested in premiership"

Ivica Dacic said on Sunday he was "not interested in the prime minister's office for himself, but expected that the election results would be respected". The leader of the Socialists (SPS) added that he also expected that the fact the per-election coalition forged by his party was "the second strongest group in the future ruling coalition". SPS leader "not interested in premiership" Dacic, who also ran in the first round of the presidential election on May 6 and finished third in that race, hinted the same day that he would seek premiership. An alliance deal has in the meantime been announced between the SPS-led coalition, and that led by the Democratic Party (DS). "I think there is a parliamentary majority, but we do not want blackmail from the biggest political party," said Dacic, noting, in reference of the Democrats, that it was "impossible and unrealistic that a party which won 22 percent of the vote has absolute power in the ruling coalition." At a panel discussion at Tanjug's press center which also included a high ranking DS official Jelena Trivan, Dacic stated that the parliamentary majority would be the same regardless of the result of the presidential election. "As far as we are concerned, a win in the presidential election is not a condition for our coalition (with the DS)," said Dacic. According to Dacic, the priorities of the new government will include protecting national and state interests, continuing European integration, economic development, social equality and fighting organized crime and corruption. Dacic said it was important to complete the election process and form a government as soon as possible. He said that a low turnout in the presidential runoff showed that talk of a two-party system was unfounded, and that political life in Serbia was very different. Dacic believes the free mandate issue will be a huge source of corruption in Serbia's political system. (Tanjug) Tanjug

SPS leader "not interested in premiership"

Dačić, who also ran in the first round of the presidential election on May 6 and finished third in that race, hinted the same day that he would seek premiership.

An alliance deal has in the meantime been announced between the SPS-led coalition, and that led by the Democratic Party (DS).

"I think there is a parliamentary majority, but we do not want blackmail from the biggest political party," said Dačić, noting, in reference of the Democrats, that it was "impossible and unrealistic that a party which won 22 percent of the vote has absolute power in the ruling coalition."

At a panel discussion at Tanjug's press center which also included a high ranking DS official Jelena Trivan, Dačić stated that the parliamentary majority would be the same regardless of the result of the presidential election.

"As far as we are concerned, a win in the presidential election is not a condition for our coalition (with the DS)," said Dačić.

According to Dačić, the priorities of the new government will include protecting national and state interests, continuing European integration, economic development, social equality and fighting organized crime and corruption.

Dačić said it was important to complete the election process and form a government as soon as possible.

He said that a low turnout in the presidential runoff showed that talk of a two-party system was unfounded, and that political life in Serbia was very different.

Dačić believes the free mandate issue will be a huge source of corruption in Serbia's political system.