Serbia's Labour Minister Rasim Ljajic expects the next parliamentary election to be held between April 22 and May 6 next year, adding that the government has overcome the major obstacles and secured a majority vote for the budget bill.

He believes the current government's term has so far been characterised by ultimatums and that it will end in the same manner.

"We have received ultimatums from minor partners in the government, the EU, the ICTY, and they have all benefited from it," Ljajic, who also leads the Social Democratic Party (SDP), told the Press daily.

He thinks that is the reason why Serbia needs a small government with as few parties as possible.

"The SDP will ask that the government comprise no more than 15 members, with only one state secretary in each ministry, which would finally complete the reforms started in 2000, including the state administration reform," he announced.

Commenting on whether a small number of parties will be able to form the government after the next election, he stated he would not mind even if the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and the Democratic Party (DS) formed it on their own, with the SDP out of the coalition, if they tackled the huge issues in the country.

However, he sees a potential coalition between the SNS and DS as one based on mathematics, and not politics.

"I do not think that would be the choice of either party, nor that they would be delighted to form such a coalition, but I do believe the SNS and DS would not resent the alliance if that were the only way to establish a stable majority given the balance of power after the election," he pointed out.