Serbian Radicals (SRS), currently headed by deputy leader Tomislav Nikolic, and the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) – New Serbia (NS) coalition, led by outgoing Serbian prime minister Vojislav Kostunica reached on May 13 a draft agreement on the character and goals of the future Serbian government, DSS spokesperson Andreja Mladenović told reporters, as quoted by Serbian broadcaster B92.

Mladenović also said that the DSS would officially meet representatives of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) on May 14 for talks on forming the next cabinet.

No party won enough votes to at the May 11 elections to form the government by itself, although the For a European Serbia coalition, led by president Boris Tadic's Democratic Party (DS), came closest.

With the legislature almost evenly split between Tadic's pro-EU coalition and the rival Radicals, SPS is now poised to play kingmaker in the future cabinet.

According to the latests results issued by RIK, Serbia's election authorities, SRS will get an extra seat in parliament at the expense of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which loses one, Serbian news agencies reported. RIK released the figures late on May 12, having counted 99.59 per cent of all ballots.

Currently the DS coalition has 102 seats, SRS has 78, DSS-NS – 30 seats, the SPS coalition – 20 seats and the LDP – 13 seats. The remaining seven seats will go to MPs elected from ethnic minorities.