Social Democrats

After almost two months negotiations on a new authority for the city between the two national ruling parties the Party of Democratic Socialists, DPS, and the Social Democratic Party, SDP, collapsed on Wednesday, the capital could face new elections.

SDP leader Ranko Krivokapic, who is also the speaker of parliament, said new elections are "the most realistic option at this point".

Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic said on Sunday that his ruling Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, and the Social Democratic Party, SDP, could sign an agreement on forming an administration in Podgorica by the end of July, ending the deadlock which has left the capital in limbo since the mayor and city management’s mandate expired in mid-June.

The Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania, UDMR, is to publish the bill this week, said its leader Peter Kovacs.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Sunday wrote on his wall on the social networking site Facebook that it was very hard for him two years ago, when President Basescu was suspended by the Parliament, to accept that the vote given by the Romanians in the 2012 referendum was ignored.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta welcomed the re-election of Martin Schulz as President of the European Parliament, stressing that he has great confidence in him following the unswerving support the German politician has offered Romania in the EU.

7,000 signatures for Ivanović’s release pending trial

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA -- A petition with more than 7,000 signatures requesting the release of Oliver Ivanović pending his trial will be submitted to EULEX representatives.

The interim report released on Thursday, covering the period March 10-26, says the presidential candidates started promoting their campaigns before the campaign's official start date - March 24.

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - The steering team tasked with establishing the community of Serb municipalities dismissed on Saturday as completely untrue a statement by the Citizens' Initiative Serbia, Democracy, Justice (SDP) on support by representatives of the Serb community in Kosovo-Metohija regarding the idea of forming a so-called Kosovo army.

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - Member of the Democratic Party (DS) Presidency Vladimir Todoric visited on Thursday leader of the Citizen Initiative SDP Oliver Ivanovic, who is being held in custory in Kosovska Mitrovica.

Romania and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have agreed on a USD 4 B loan to Bucharest.

The credit package deal was struck after President Traian Basescu gave his approval, as Bulgarian website Investor.bg reports.

Basescu has long resisted the agreement as it forces Romania to impose an excise tax for fuels at EUR 0.07 per liter.