Azernews.Az

Serbian political parties are expected to start tough negotiations on the formation of a new government following the surprise win of nationalist Tomislav Nikolic in a presidential election on May 20.

Nikolic narrowly beat the pro-Western Boris Tadic, breaking his almost 12-year hold on power. Most preelection polls had predicted a comfortable win for Tadic.

The 60-year-old Nikolic had lost to Tadic in two previous presidential elections. But this time, voters punished Tadic for the country`s economic troubles, plummeting living standards and what many Serbs denounce as rampant corruption among the ruling elite.

Low turnout at the poll contributed to Nikolic`s victory as nationalist voters tend to vote actively.

The win by Nikolic, a former ultranationalist ally of late Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic, throws Serbia into fresh political uncertainty.

``It`s an open game,`` says German-based Balkans analyst Frantz-Lothar Altmann. ``It will not be easy for Serbia in the coming months because Serbia is trying to begin [various] negotiations, it has to reenter talks with Kosovo. So it will be a very difficult time under extreme uncertainties.``

Nikolic may now seek to form a new government, casting doubt on an existing coalition deal clinched between Tadic`s Democratic Party and the Socialist Party -- founded by Milosevic -- following May 6 parliamentary polls.

Under the Serbian Constitution, Nikolic has the right to task his Progressive Party, which won the most seats in the May 6 vote, with forming a new government.

But analysts believe he faces an uphill battle:

``The probability that he succeeds in forming a government that is on his side is rather limited,`` says Altmann. ``So what seems will come out of it is a cohabitation between a government with the DS [Democratic Party] and the Socialist Party [versus] Mr Nikolic.

``And that could become difficult, because Nikolic has a rather strong party that will support him as opposition in parliament.``

Although the horse trading is only just beginning, the Socialist Party--founded by Milosevic and led by his wartime spokesman Ivica Dacic--said on May 20 that the coalition deal with the Democrats would stand regardless of Nikolic`s win.

EU setback?
The election result has also cast doubt on the Balkan nation`s drive to join the European Union.