BELGRADE – Republic Electoral Commission has proclaimed the second list for the parliamentary elections on 17 December: “Ivica Dačić – Prime Minister of Serbia”, submitted by longtime coalition partners Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and United Serbia (JS).
President of SPS and current Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dačić is the first candidate on the list, while Marko Milošević, grandson of Slobodan Milošević and Mira Marković who recently joined the party, is the third.
In April last year, SPS-JS coalition won 11.8% of the vote.
The name of the list clearly states the political ambition of the leader of SPS, who was Prime Minister once before, from 2012 to 2014. During that time, he signed the original 2013 Brussels agreement with Pristina.
SPS has been a junior coalition partner of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) since 2012. Previously, it was a junior coalition partner in the government led by Democratic Party (DS).
While in the period form 2014 to 2022 SNS did not need support from SPS, as it commanded the majority on its own, the assessment of experts has been that it did not want the Socialists as a rival due to the partial overlap of their voters, which is why it has kept them as a coalition partner.
Since last year, however, SNS once again needs the support of SPS both in the national parliament and in Belgrade.
Founded by Slobodan Milošević in 1990, SPS was the dominant party during that decade. It was out of power from 2000 to 2008, though it supported the minority government of Vojislav Koštunica from 2004 to 2007.
The party has formerly endorsed the goal of Serbia’s EU membership, but has not given up on strong ties with Russia.
Signing of the coalition agreement between SPS, JS and the “Greens”
Photo: Facebook / Socijalistička partije Srbije
