Bojan Pajtic elected new Democratic Party leader

BELGRADE - Bojan Pajtic has been elected the new president of the Democratic Party (DS), replacing its former leader Dragan Djilas, his sole rival.

A total of 1,461 delegates backed Pajtic at the party's electoral assembly meeting on Saturday, while 1,277 voted for Djilas.

From ten candidates, the DS also elected five deputy presidents - Borko Stefanovic, Natasa Vuckovic, Goran Jesic, Maja Videnovic and Gordana Comic.

This is the last time elections in the DS are held according to the delegate system, and all future elections will be direct, Pajtic said addressing the delegates.

Electoral Commission President Dusan Elezovic said that 2,768 delegates cast their votes, of which 30 were invalid.
Pajtic referred to his rival Djilas and his supporters as his party friends.

"The DS has demonstrated that it is the most liberal and the most civilised party in this country. For the first time ever, a resident of Vojvodina has become the president of a major parliamentary party. We have shown that we are free of prejudice," Pajtic said.

The electoral assembly has shown that there is no democratic Serbia without the DS, Pajtic said, vowing to do his best to consolidate the party and form the best shadow government possible.

The DS also adopted a Declaration on political responsibility, pointing to crucial social issues and warning that Serbia is facing a deep economic, social and state crisis that can only be alleviated through well-thought-out, competent and just economic measures.

Photo Tanjug, T. Valic