Pensioners stall signing of coalition agreement

A high ranking official of the United Pensioners of Serbia (PUPS) has said that his party would not sign a government coalition agreement "such as it is". Milan Krkobabic addressed a news conference in Belgrade after the party's presidency held a meeting that lasted for over four hours behind closed doors. Pensioners stall signing of coalition agreement The Pensioners form a pre-election coalition led by the Socialists (SPS), that also includes United Serbia (JS). The Socialists, the Progressives (SNS), and the United Regions of Serbia (URS) are negotiating Serbia's next government, and were expected to sign a coalition agreement on Tuesday. "PUPS will not sign the draft coalition agreement in this format, because it is not precise," said Krkobabic, and added that the process of government formation was "still completely open, while it remains to be seen whether there would be a third attempt". Unofficially, PUPS has requested "more time" to consider the proposed coalition deal, in order to "specify whether the agreement is completely in line with the party's positions". Also unofficially, it was reported that the party wants "some positions in the future government to be distributed according to election results". It was also reported that SPS leader Ivica Dacic was due to meet with his pre-election coalition partners later in the day. Speaking for Monday's edition of the Belgrade-based tabloid Press, PUPS President Jovan Krkobabic said that the party was yet to decide whether to participate in Serbia's next government, and that it did not take part in the negotiations, learning instead about the distribution of portfolios "from the media". PUPS is entitled to 15 out of the coalition's 44 seats in parliament, with 22 MPs coming from the ranks of the Socialists and seven from United Serbia. The Progressives had won 73 seats, while the URS have 16. In order to be voted in, the country's future government will have to garner the support of at least 126 out of 250 MPs. Jovan Krkobavic addresses reporters in Belgrade on Monday (Tanjug) B92 Beta RTS

Pensioners stall signing of coalition agreement

The Pensioners form a pre-election coalition led by the Socialists (SPS), that also includes United Serbia (JS).

The Socialists, the Progressives (SNS), and the United Regions of Serbia (URS) are negotiating Serbia's next government, and were expected to sign a coalition agreement on Tuesday.

"PUPS will not sign the draft coalition agreement in this format, because it is not precise," said Krkobabić, and added that the process of government formation was "still completely open, while it remains to be seen whether there would be a third attempt".

Unofficially, PUPS has requested "more time" to consider the proposed coalition deal, in order to "specify whether the agreement is completely in line with the party's positions". Also unofficially, it was reported that the party wants "some positions in the future government to be distributed according to election results".

It was also reported that SPS leader Ivica Dačić was due to meet with his pre-election coalition partners later in the day.

Speaking for Monday's edition of the Belgrade-based tabloid Press, PUPS President Jovan Krkobabić said that the party was yet to decide whether to participate in Serbia's next government, and that it did not take part in the negotiations, learning instead about the distribution of portfolios "from the media".

PUPS is entitled to 15 out of the coalition's 44 seats in parliament, with 22 MPs coming from the ranks of the Socialists and seven from United Serbia.

The Progressives had won 73 seats, while the URS have 16.

In order to be voted in, the country's future government will have to garner the support of at least 126 out of 250 MPs.