Serbian opposition leader Tomislav Nikolic won the presidential election run-off Sunday, defeating Boris Tadic in the race for the office after four failed attempts for the office, dpa reported.
According to incomplete and unofficial results from the Serbian election commission, Nikolic won 50.2 per cent of the votes and Tadic 46.7 per cent.
Nikolic declared victory some 90 minutes after the polling stations closed. He said he would step down as the head of his Serbian Preogressive Party (SNS), as required by law.
"Owing to votes from Serbian citizens this evening I won the presidential elections," he said at a celebration of his victory at SNS party headquarters.
Nikolic ran for president in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2008.
Nikolic, a former far-right nationalist who steered toward the political centre in recent years and started backing Serbia's bid to join the European Union, said the country must "continue seeking friends."
He also said that fighting crime and corruption will be one of his priorities. But the president in Serbia carries little real authority, as most of the power is held by the parliament and government.
Tadic conceded defeat, congratulated Nikolic and wished him "all the best on this very difficult job."
Nikolic's SNS also won the most votes in the parliamentary poll, which coincided with the first round of the presidential vote and local elections on May 6.
Tadic's Democratic Party (DS) was the runner-up, but Tadic and other leaders already declared that the broad alliance which had governed Serbia since 2008 will be renewed, threatening to sideline the SNS.
In his address Sunday night, Nikolic said that he is "not angry at anyone," apparently sending a call to potential coalition partners in the parliament.
Ivica Dacic, the chief of the third-placed Socialist Party (SPS), which is in position to be the kingmaker in the future government coalition, said his party will remain allied with the DS "regardless of the outcome" of the presidential election.
Suzana Grubjesic of the United Regions, also a part of the outgoing ruling coalition, said that a partnership with the SNS was not an option.
Tadic said that he will in no case seek to become the prime minister, even though his party appears set to be the largest in the future governing coalition.
The result of the run-off embarrassed leading pollsters in Serbia who predicted a comfortable win for Tadic, despite a virtual tie, at around 25 per cent, in the first round.
Tadic is leaving the presidential office after two terms - he was allowed to run again because he won the first before Serbia and Montenegro dissolved their federation in 2006.
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