"SNS willing to join Democrats in power in Vojvodina"

"SNS willing to join Democrats in power in Vojvodina"

NOVI SAD -- SNS vice-president Goran Knežević says his party has changed its stance on joining a coalition government with the DS in Vojvodina, and could now do so.

The change of position on a broad coalition in the province came because the Progressives "have the interest of Vojvodina in mind," he added.

"It is true that a couple of months ago we would not join the DS in power, and now we are offering that option as well. Vojvodina needs elections because the still current DS authorities have completely lost their legitimacy. However, at this time, that is completely not rational for the whole of Serbia, and very difficult to carry out from the technical point of view," Knežević was quoted as saying.

He added that "the proposal of League of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) President Istvan Pasztor" about "a concentrated government" in the province was acceptable:

"It's not a bad idea. It means there would be a transitional govermnment that would have an expiry date, and in that determined time frame some legislation would be adopted and defined goals achieved. After that, provincial elections would be called."

Asked what would happen if the DS continued to reject cooperation with the SNS, Knežević replied, "Then we will make a transitional government without them."

Parties at odds

The Democratic Party (DS) finds the idea of forming a broad-based government in Vojvodina unacceptable, prime minister of the northern Serbian province and DS leader Bojan Pajtić said on Tuesday.

Leaders of the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) and the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) Aleksandar Vučić and Istvan Pasztor...