Serbia's Vucic Offers Socialists to Enter Coalition

Aleksandar Vucic was Deputy Prime Minister in the outgoing Serbian government. Photo by EPA/BGNES

The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) has offered seats in government to the socialists, led by outgoing Prime Minister Ivica Dacic.

SNS, together with the socialists, has ruled Serbia since 2012, but called early elections to gain more support, which it is saying to need to successfully implement radical reforms.

Progressive Party's leader Aleksandar Vucic also proposed that the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians, a party representing ethnic Hungarians, join the new cabinet.

It is unclear whether a continued alliance with socialists will secure him support for severe budget cuts he is planning to reduce the pressure on public debt, a measure Dacic has long opposed.

He is nevertheless expected to have the necessary legislative freedom, with 158 out of 250 seats in Parliament, compared to 44 socialist lawmakers.

Vucic said for Radio B92 that he had "made an offer to the SPS in accordance with their strength which is significantly lower than that of the SNS, but bearing in mind the need to form a Serbia of unity and not of division."

The next Serbian government is expected to be announced by end-April.

In Belgrade, the new parliament is meanwhile due to hold its inaugural session on Wednesday afternoon.

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