Scramble to build coalition begins in Serbia
Monday, 12, May 2008 09:45
Efforts to establish a new coalition have begun in Serbia after the Balkan states' pro-European alliance came out on top in yesterday's election.
The alliance has reportedly begun negotiations with smaller parties to stave off a challenge from the nationalist runners-up, who are also claiming they can form a government.
Monitors put the alliance led by the Democratic party at 39 per cent of the vote, ahead of the Radicals on 29 per cent, according to Reuters.
A rolling count by the state election commission put the Democrats at 36.7 per cent and the Radical Party at 28.5 per cent.
The election was fought on whether Serbs should swallow their anger over European Union support for the independence of Kosovo, the Serb province which seceded in February, or turn their backs on the bid for European Union membership.
The Democrats' leader, president Boris Tadic, told supporters: "Serbs have undoubtedly confirmed a clear European path. This is a great victory, but it's not over yet.
"I want us to be aware that we must form a new government as soon as possible."
The Radicals' leader, Tomislav Nikolic, said the Democrat claim of victory jumped the gun. There were "very clear possibilities of a coalition which does not include the Democratic party", he said.
Nikolic said he would talk to the two parties that share the Radicals' ideology, the Democratic Party of Serbia, led by outgoing nationalist premier Vojislav Kostunica and the Socialists of the late Slobodan Milosevic.
Either these three parties would form a coalition, he predicted, or "Serbia will not have a government at all and we'll have to go to new elections".
Official results are due by Thursday night. Parliament must convene by mid-June and a government be formed by mid-September or the country must hold a new election.