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Serbian president dissolves parliament, schedules elections for April 24

Xinhua, March 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

Serbian president Tomislav Nikolic Friday signed a decision to dissolve the parliament and schedule snap parliamentary elections for April 24 in response to the proposal of Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.

Explaining his decision, Nikolic said that government achieved a lot since it was formed less than two years ago and initiated reforms for which it needs another mandate, "so that it would be confident that what it does is in line with the will of the citizens."

"All legal conditions for the elections to be scheduled today are met, and I scheduled them having no dilemma about it," Nikolic said.

He stressed that he hopes the country will continue with reforms as well as that the opposition at these elections will "get the opportunity to test whether it left a trace among the citizens with its actions".

Nikolic said that he will not interfere in the composition of the future government, but that he wishes for the victory of Progressive Party that he founded in 2008 and currently led by Prime Minister Vucic.

However, Nikolic said he would be able to cooperate with any government formed after the upcoming elections, although he "is not sure if an outcome other than the victory of Progressives would benefit reforms."

"I expect fair and democratic elections," Nikolic concluded.

Serbian government on Thursday officially requested Nikolic to dissolve parliament and schedule snap elections less than two years since taking office.

The government stated in the written explanation that the request would pave the path for a host of necessary reforms, including those demanded by chapters in the EU acquis on Serbia's path towards full membership in European Union.

Serbia's current parliament was elected on March 16, 2014 while the government was formed on April 27 in the same year.

Parliamentary elections scheduled for April 24, will take place together with local and provincial elections in Serbia.

Research conducted by agency Faktor Plus and presented on Wednesday shows that ruling Progressives (SNS) led by Vucic would have 49.4 percent of votes, while Socialist Party (SPS) would have 11.3 percent. Analysts said that the results show that people place the greatest degree of individual trust in Aleksandar Vucic -- 58 percent.

Opposition Democratic Party (DS) would gather 6.4 percent, Radical Party (SRS) would have 6, while above the census of 5 percent would also be a coalition around the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) with 5.7 percent and around Social Democratic Party (SDS) with 5 percent of votes. Endit