"Socialists in informal talks with Progressives"

Unofficial media reports are saying that the Socialists (SPS) have been holding "informal" talks with the Progressives (SNS), focused on forming a government. B92 has unofficially learned about this, while Belgrade-based daily Danas carried a similar report, citing its sources close to the SPS-led pre-election alliance. "Socialists in informal talks with Progressives" This coalition won 44 seats in Serbia's 250-seat parliament in the May 6 parliamentary elections. The coalitions gathered around the SNS and the Democrats (DS) won 73 and 67 mandates, respectively. Several days after the parliamentary vote, the SPS, led by Ivica Dacic, and Boris Tadic's DS agreed that they would enter negotiations to form a parliamentary majority that would elect the next cabinet. But today, the Danas newspaper is quoting its source "close to the top leadership of the SPS-led coalition" as saying that their agreement with the Democrats was made under the assumption that Boris Tadic would win in the presidential runoff against SNS leader Tomislav Nikolic. That, however, did not come to pass, and the daily's source said that "now we have a new reality, and an alliance with the SNS is not impossible, while we continue our talks with the Democrats as well". According to the article, the Socialists will launch official negotiations after Nikolic has been sworn-in as the country's new president. The unnamed source further told the newspaper that Nikolic and Dacic spoke on Monday afternoon, and that SNS deputy leader Aleksandar Vucic at the same time met with top officials of the Pensioners' Party (PUPS) - one of the Socialists' pre-election coalition partners: "A deal has not been reached, nor has the deal in principle reached previously with the DS been abandoned, but everyone in the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition is more than aware of the new political circumstances in the wake of Tadic's defeat, therefore, continued contacts with the Progressives are to be expected." The general agreement between the SPS and the DS was formed "under the assumption of Tadic's victory", the source said, and added: "A new political reality has been established now, and everything will be on the table: from the number of ministries, to the specific characteristics of some portfolios. Dacic is a legitimate representative of our coalition and a decisive player, while any outcome will depend on how firm he will be". The Socialists realize that they are the kingmaker in the post-election process, and that a new cabinet will not be formed without them. If they decide to side with the SNS and managed to convince parties of ethic minorities to join them, that alone would be enough to garner the support of 127 MPs - precisely the number that enabled the DS-led coalition to rule during the past four years. If Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) also joined such a coalition, then it would count on a comfortable majority of 138 MPs. According to reports, Nikolic and Kostunica - who backed his presidential bid ahead of the second round - has a telephone conversation on Monday, when Serbia's new president thanked the DSS leader for his support. In the meanwhile, both the the SNS-PUPS-JS coalition, and the Progressives are refusing to either confirm or deny any of the media reports. The Socialists are officially saying instead that they are waiting for the Democrats to name their candidate for prime minister, while top party official and outgoing Parliament Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic has said that Boris Tadic would be "best choice for that job". But on Wednesday, when pressed by reporters, high ranking SPS official and minister in the outgoing government Milutin Mrkonjic confirmed that negotiations were indeed taking place. "The talks are ongoing, and are being conducted only by Ivica Dacic," Mrkonjic said, but did not wish to provide any other details. (Tanjug, file) B92 Danas

"Socialists in informal talks with Progressives"

This coalition won 44 seats in Serbia's 250-seat parliament in the May 6 parliamentary elections. The coalitions gathered around the SNS and the Democrats (DS) won 73 and 67 mandates, respectively.

Several days after the parliamentary vote, the SPS, led by Ivica Dačić, and Boris Tadić's DS agreed that they would enter negotiations to form a parliamentary majority that would elect the next cabinet.

But today, the Danas newspaper is quoting its source "close to the top leadership of the SPS-led coalition" as saying that their agreement with the Democrats was made under the assumption that Boris Tadić would win in the presidential runoff against SNS leader Tomislav Nikolić.

That, however, did not come to pass, and the daily's source said that "now we have a new reality, and an alliance with the SNS is not impossible, while we continue our talks with the Democrats as well".

According to the article, the Socialists will launch official negotiations after Nikolić has been sworn-in as the country's new president.

The unnamed source further told the newspaper that Nikolić and Dačić spoke on Monday afternoon, and that SNS deputy leader Aleksandar Vučić at the same time met with top officials of the Pensioners' Party (PUPS) - one of the Socialists' pre-election coalition partners:

"A deal has not been reached, nor has the deal in principle reached previously with the DS been abandoned, but everyone in the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition is more than aware of the new political circumstances in the wake of Tadić's defeat, therefore, continued contacts with the Progressives are to be expected."

The general agreement between the SPS and the DS was formed "under the assumption of Tadić's victory", the source said, and added:

"A new political reality has been established now, and everything will be on the table: from the number of ministries, to the specific characteristics of some portfolios. Dačić is a legitimate representative of our coalition and a decisive player, while any outcome will depend on how firm he will be".

The Socialists realize that they are the kingmaker in the post-election process, and that a new cabinet will not be formed without them. If they decide to side with the SNS and managed to convince parties of ethic minorities to join them, that alone would be enough to garner the support of 127 MPs - precisely the number that enabled the DS-led coalition to rule during the past four years.

If Vojislav Koštunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) also joined such a coalition, then it would count on a comfortable majority of 138 MPs.

According to reports, Nikolić and Koštunica - who backed his presidential bid ahead of the second round - has a telephone conversation on Monday, when Serbia's new president thanked the DSS leader for his support.

In the meanwhile, both the the SNS-PUPS-JS coalition, and the Progressives are refusing to either confirm or deny any of the media reports.

The Socialists are officially saying instead that they are waiting for the Democrats to name their candidate for prime minister, while top party official and outgoing Parliament Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović has said that Boris Tadić would be "best choice for that job".

But on Wednesday, when pressed by reporters, high ranking SPS official and minister in the outgoing government Milutin Mrkonjić confirmed that negotiations were indeed taking place. "The talks are ongoing, and are being conducted only by Ivica Dačić," Mrkonjić said, but did not wish to provide any other details.