Forostar
Ancient Mariner
Serbia to get pro-EU coalition government
By Ellie Tzortzi / (additional reporting by Ivana Sekularac; editing by Keith Weir)
BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia's Socialist Party will join an alliance headed by the Democratic Party to form a pro-European coalition government, Socialist leader Ivica Dacic said on Monday.
Although details on the final division of posts and functions in the cabinet have yet to be agreed, the move signals the formation of a government that will aim to speed up Serbia's European Union membership bid after years of halting progress.
The news will come as a relief to Western capitals keen to see Serbia take its place firmly in the European mainstream after years of aggression, defiance and instability.
"The main board supported with a majority of votes the formation of a government with the pro-European alliance," Serbia's state news agency Tanjug quoted Dacic as saying after a meeting of his party's senior officials.
Western worries intensified in the weeks after the May 11 election, which the Democrats won but without clinching the 126-deputy majority needed in the 250-seat parliament.
The nationalist Radicals and the DSS of outgoing Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica came second and third and joined forces, brought together by their virulent opposition to EU membership until the bloc stops backing Kosovo's independence.
The Albanian majority in the former southern province, Serbia's medieval heartland, declared independence in February with the EU's blessing.
In almost a month of talks, the nationalists tried to lure the Socialists by focusing on their common stance on issues such as Kosovo, and reminding them of their legacy as a party founded by the late nationalist strongman Slobodan Milosevic.
But they underestimated the Socialists' desire for rehabilitation after having been blamed for the wars, isolation and poverty caused by Milosevic's aggressive nationalism in the 1990s.
The party eventually refused to freeze Serbia's EU bid, arguing that the resulting economic progress is key to the generous social policy they promised their voters, and talks with the nationalists collapsed.
"I know this decision will not be understood by part of our electorate," Dacic said on Monday, "but this is a big comeback for the Socialists and an opportunity for a new start."
The Democrats have not yet commented on Dacic's announcement but had already made clear they were ready to seal a coalition with the Socialists in a spirit of reconciliation.
Once bitter critics of Milosevic's nationalism in the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, the Democrats now say they will help the Socialists rebrand and could water down economic reforms to accommodate their populist agenda.
Sources say Socialist officials stand to get several powerful ministries and lucrative positions in Serbia's many state firms.
By Ellie Tzortzi / (additional reporting by Ivana Sekularac; editing by Keith Weir)
BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia's Socialist Party will join an alliance headed by the Democratic Party to form a pro-European coalition government, Socialist leader Ivica Dacic said on Monday.
Although details on the final division of posts and functions in the cabinet have yet to be agreed, the move signals the formation of a government that will aim to speed up Serbia's European Union membership bid after years of halting progress.
The news will come as a relief to Western capitals keen to see Serbia take its place firmly in the European mainstream after years of aggression, defiance and instability.
"The main board supported with a majority of votes the formation of a government with the pro-European alliance," Serbia's state news agency Tanjug quoted Dacic as saying after a meeting of his party's senior officials.
Western worries intensified in the weeks after the May 11 election, which the Democrats won but without clinching the 126-deputy majority needed in the 250-seat parliament.
The nationalist Radicals and the DSS of outgoing Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica came second and third and joined forces, brought together by their virulent opposition to EU membership until the bloc stops backing Kosovo's independence.
The Albanian majority in the former southern province, Serbia's medieval heartland, declared independence in February with the EU's blessing.
In almost a month of talks, the nationalists tried to lure the Socialists by focusing on their common stance on issues such as Kosovo, and reminding them of their legacy as a party founded by the late nationalist strongman Slobodan Milosevic.
But they underestimated the Socialists' desire for rehabilitation after having been blamed for the wars, isolation and poverty caused by Milosevic's aggressive nationalism in the 1990s.
The party eventually refused to freeze Serbia's EU bid, arguing that the resulting economic progress is key to the generous social policy they promised their voters, and talks with the nationalists collapsed.
"I know this decision will not be understood by part of our electorate," Dacic said on Monday, "but this is a big comeback for the Socialists and an opportunity for a new start."
The Democrats have not yet commented on Dacic's announcement but had already made clear they were ready to seal a coalition with the Socialists in a spirit of reconciliation.
Once bitter critics of Milosevic's nationalism in the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, the Democrats now say they will help the Socialists rebrand and could water down economic reforms to accommodate their populist agenda.
Sources say Socialist officials stand to get several powerful ministries and lucrative positions in Serbia's many state firms.
