Pro-West Serb bloc's poll win confirmed, tough talks begin
BELGRADE (AFP) — Pro-Western forces in Serbia began tough talks on Monday to cobble together a coalition, after the electoral commission confirmed they scored an upset poll victory over nationalist rivals.
President Boris Tadic's "For a European Serbia" alliance garnered 38.8 percent in Sunday's parliamentary elections dominated by the issue of Serbian ties with the European Union.
While short of an absolute majority, the alliance was well ahead of the ultra-nationalist Radical Party on 29.2 percent, said the commission.
There had been predictions of a possible nationalist backlash over widespread EU support for the independence of Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo.
In the end, the result "undoubtedly confirmed a clear European path," Tadic said at his Democratic Party campaign headquarters.
"The Democratic Party will be the key player in the future cabinet," said the president, refusing to reveal who might be his prime minister.
"The negotiations will not be easy (but) I warn everyone not to play with the electoral will of the citizens and try to take Serbia back to the isolation of the 1990s," he said in reference to the hardline regime of late president Slobodan Milosevic.
The Democrats' expected coalition partners include the Socialist Party of Serbia, founded by Milosevic, and/or the Liberal Democratic Party, whose leader Cedomir Jovanovic negotiated the late strongman's arrest in 2001.
The electoral commission's preliminary results showed the Socialists won 7.6 percent of the vote, while the pro-Western LDP scored 5.3 percent.
They confirmed estimates on Sunday night, which sparked fireworks and wild celebrations in Belgrade, where cars decked out in Serbian, Democrat and EU flags honked their horns as they drove around the city centre.
At the time, the Radical Party had warned Tadic against jumping the gun and said it might still be able to form a government.
"There is a possible coalition without the Democratic Party and we warn Serbia about that," said Radicals leader Tomislav Nikolic.
The results will be seen as a breakthrough for Serbia, where a series of governments have struggled for unity on the path to EU membership since Milosevic was overthrown in a popular uprising eight years ago.
Those divisions came to the fore during a bitter campaign in which Tadic and his allies received death threats and were branded "traitors" for signing a rapprochement accord with the EU.
Most EU members have recognised Kosovo, despite Belgrade's staunch opposition.
Political analyst Vladimir Pavic urged Tadic and his partners to begin coalition talks immediately in order to "strike while the iron is hot."
"The government must be formed quickly. Citizens should quickly get proof that they have chosen wisely -- more investments, faster EU integration, steady economic values," said Pavic.
The economic benefits of the pro-West win was reflected Monday on the Belgrade Stock Exchange, whose main BELEX-15 index rose a record 13 percent.
The Slovenian presidency of the European Union promptly hailed what it called "a clear victory" by pro-European forces, adding it hoped a new government would soon be formed "with a clear European agenda."
The outcome was roundly welcomed in the volatile Balkans, including Croatia and Kosovo , where Serbs waged wars during the bloody 1990s break-up of Yugoslavia.
The polls came three months after ethnic Albanian-majority Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, leading to the fall of the year-old government of nationalist Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica in a row over EU ties.
The electoral commission said 61 percent of the 6.7 million electorate turned out for the vote. It is scheduled to confirm the final tally by Thursday.
International observers praised the conduct of the elections, describing them as well-organised and offering voters a free and diverse choice.
Under the constitution, the parliament has to be formed within 30 days of the results being confirmed, while a government has be assembled by September, or else Serbia faces new elections.
