Consultations on new government to begin on Wednesday

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will begin consultations on a new government on Wednesday, after which he is to decide on which political group will be given the mandate to form a cabinet.

The deadline for forming a new government expires at midnight April 18.

On Monday evening, Vucic said he had written to all political groups in the parliament about the matter and that five or six would take part in the consultations, due to be completed by Friday.

He said he expected the largest group, the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, to inform him whether it wanted to form a government or go to new elections.

He noted that the sentiment in the party was certainly not in favour of any kind of transitional government and that he, too, agreed with that view.

Under the Constitution, Vucic is obliged to give the mandate to the group that can secure a parliamentary majority - at least 126 votes.