SPS leader to be new PM, reports say

Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leader Ivica Dacic still has not commented on the unofficial information that he will accept to be a prime minister, media say. The government would consist of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), SPS and the United Regions of Serbia (URS). SPS leader to be new PM, reports say According to some Belgrade-based dailies, the SPS leader has already accepted the SNS’ offer but he has not informed the public yet. Daily Politika claims that the representatives of the three parties have already discussed ministerial positions. B92 has learnt, however, that the parties still have not decided who the future ministers will be. Quoting unnamed sources, daily Politika writes that Dacic has made his final decision and that the party will enter the government with the SNS and the URS. The new parliamentary majority will thus have 131 MPs, but it is possible that some of the smaller parties will join them, too. The daily reports that the new government should have 12 ministries and 13 members, adding that an agreement on distribution of most ministries has been reached. According to Politika, Dacic would be the next prime minister and also remain interior minister. SNS acting director Aleksandar Vucic would be a deputy prime minister and minister for EU integration, whereas leader of the United Pensioners of Serbia (PUPS) Jovan Krkobabic would be the second deputy prime minister. URS leader Mladjan Dinkic would be an economy, regional development and labor minster while SNS deputy leader Jorgovanka Tabakovic would get the Finance Ministry. SPS deputy leader Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic would be at the head of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection Minister and New Serbia (NS) leader Velimir Ilic would take over the Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry Ministry. URS deputy leader Suzana Grubjesic would be Serbia's foreign minister and SNS official Borislav Pelevic the new defense minister, the daily wrote. SPS deputy leaders Milutin Mrkonjic and Zarko Obradovic would continue to run the Infrastructure Minstry and the Education Ministry. On the other hand, daily Blic writes that the SNS insisted on getting the ministries dealing with international relations, and added that, in case the government is formed by the SNS, SPS and the URS, the country's internal affairs would be in the hands of the Socialists and the URS. Daily Press also reports that Dacic has decided to accept the Progressives' offer to be the prime minister in a SNS-SPS-URS government. Ilic claims that the new coalition will be declared Monday. Press' sources state that the Socialists would keep all the ministries they were at the head of, while Dinkic would get economic departments. It remains to be seen whether Vucic will accept to be deputy prime minister for EU integration, the position which the DS offered to Cedomir Jovanovic, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, the daily reported. A SNS source told Press they were still waiting for the SPS' decision and that they had a 50 percent chance to form the government. Daily Danas writes that the “DS has until Friday to offer a prime minster’s position to Dacic. If it fails to do so, the SPS will form the government with the Progressives and the URS and it will be headed by Dacic”. Daily Vecernje novosti writes that the talks between the SPS and the DS “are about to fail” and that the Progressives are taking over the initiative. The DS requested from the SPS last night to say whether the agreement reached on May 8 was still valid. Ivica Dacic and Tomislav Nikolic (Tanjug, file) B92 Beta Tanjug

SPS leader to be new PM, reports say

According to some Belgrade-based dailies, the SPS leader has already accepted the SNS’ offer but he has not informed the public yet.

Daily Politika claims that the representatives of the three parties have already discussed ministerial positions.

B92 has learnt, however, that the parties still have not decided who the future ministers will be.

Quoting unnamed sources, daily Politika writes that Dačić has made his final decision and that the party will enter the government with the SNS and the URS. The new parliamentary majority will thus have 131 MPs, but it is possible that some of the smaller parties will join them, too.

The daily reports that the new government should have 12 ministries and 13 members, adding that an agreement on distribution of most ministries has been reached.

According to Politika, Dačić would be the next prime minister and also remain interior minister. SNS acting director Aleksandar Vučić would be a deputy prime minister and minister for EU integration, whereas leader of the United Pensioners of Serbia (PUPS) Jovan Krkobabić would be the second deputy prime minister.

URS leader Mlađan Dinkić would be an economy, regional development and labor minster while SNS deputy leader Jorgovanka Tabaković would get the Finance Ministry.

SPS deputy leader Slavica Đukić-Dejanović would be at the head of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection Minister and New Serbia (NS) leader Velimir Ilić would take over the Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry Ministry.

URS deputy leader Suzana Grubješić would be Serbia's foreign minister and SNS official Borislav Pelević the new defense minister, the daily wrote.

SPS deputy leaders Milutin Mrkonjić and Žarko Obradović would continue to run the Infrastructure Minstry and the Education Ministry.

On the other hand, daily Blic writes that the SNS insisted on getting the ministries dealing with international relations, and added that, in case the government is formed by the SNS, SPS and the URS, the country's internal affairs would be in the hands of the Socialists and the URS.

Daily Press also reports that Dačić has decided to accept the Progressives' offer to be the prime minister in a SNS-SPS-URS government.

Ilić claims that the new coalition will be declared Monday.

Press' sources state that the Socialists would keep all the ministries they were at the head of, while Dinkić would get economic departments.

It remains to be seen whether Vučić will accept to be deputy prime minister for EU integration, the position which the DS offered to Čedomir Jovanović, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, the daily reported.

A SNS source told Press they were still waiting for the SPS' decision and that they had a 50 percent chance to form the government.

Daily Danas writes that the “DS has until Friday to offer a prime minster’s position to Dačić. If it fails to do so, the SPS will form the government with the Progressives and the URS and it will be headed by Dačić”.

Daily Večernje novosti writes that the talks between the SPS and the DS “are about to fail” and that the Progressives are taking over the initiative.

The DS requested from the SPS last night to say whether the agreement reached on May 8 was still valid.