Biography of president-elect Tomislav Nikolić

Tomislav Nikolic, leader of the Serb Progressive Party (SNS), on Sunday became Serbia's president when he defeated Boris Tadic (DS) in the presidential runoff. The country's new leader was was born on February 15, 1952, in the central Serbian town of Kragujevac. Biography of president-elect Tomislav Nikolic He graduated from the Technical High School in his hometown, and then from the Faculty of Economics and Engineering Management in Novi Sad. In the early 1990s, he was active in the People's Radical Party. On his initiative, the party merged with local headquarters of the Serbian Chetnik Movement led by Vojislav Seselj in 1991 into a new party named the Serb Radical Party (SRS). Vojislav Seselj was elected its leader, while Nikolic decame his deputy. He held the same position in September 2008, when he and a number of other party officials and MPs broke off to form a new party - the Serb Progressive Party (SNS). Since 1992, Nikolic has been elected to serve as MP in the Serbian parliament - the only person to have been a member of every parliament since. In March 1998, Nikolic was appointed as a deputy prime minister of the Serbian government. Beginning in August 1999, he was deputy prime minister of the Federal Yugoslav Government, under former Montenegrin President Momir Bulatovic as prime minister. In May 2007, he was elected as Serbian parliament speaker, but was replaced after only five days. He ran for the president of Serbia four times. In the previous presidential election held in 2008, Nikolic received 47.97 percent of the vote and lost to Boris Tadic, who won 50.31 percent. Tomislav Nikolic is married to Dragica Nikolic. The couple have two sons and four grandchildren. Tomislav Nikolic (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Biography of president-elect Tomislav Nikolić

He graduated from the Technical High School in his hometown, and then from the Faculty of Economics and Engineering Management in Novi Sad.

In the early 1990s, he was active in the People's Radical Party. On his initiative, the party merged with local headquarters of the Serbian Chetnik Movement led by Vojislav Šešelj in 1991 into a new party named the Serb Radical Party (SRS).

Vojislav Šešelj was elected its leader, while Nikolić decame his deputy.

He held the same position in September 2008, when he and a number of other party officials and MPs broke off to form a new party - the Serb Progressive Party (SNS).

Since 1992, Nikolić has been elected to serve as MP in the Serbian parliament - the only person to have been a member of every parliament since.

In March 1998, Nikolić was appointed as a deputy prime minister of the Serbian government.

Beginning in August 1999, he was deputy prime minister of the Federal Yugoslav Government, under former Montenegrin President Momir Bulatović as prime minister.

In May 2007, he was elected as Serbian parliament speaker, but was replaced after only five days.

He ran for the president of Serbia four times.

In the previous presidential election held in 2008, Nikolić received 47.97 percent of the vote and lost to Boris Tadić, who won 50.31 percent.

Tomislav Nikolić is married to Dragica Nikolić. The couple have two sons and four grandchildren.