Boris Tadic, the presidential candidate of the 'Choice for a Better Life' coalition won 26.8 percent of votes, while Tomislav Nikolic of 'Let's Get Serbia Moving' won 25.6 percent, according to first preliminary results of the the Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID).

The voter turnout was 58.7percent.

Nikolic, Tadic ready for runoff, Dacic happy with results

Democratic Party presidential candidate Boris Tadic has said that he is sure in a re-election, and that the outcome of the vote will determine the next cabinet. Tadic went on to say that in forging a new cabinet, he would not yield to any form of blackmail, and that he hoped that he would get even more support in the run-off.

"I will begin campaigning as soon as tomorrow. I intend to win and we will win," Tadic said.

On May 7, Serbian Progressive Party presidential candidate Tomislav Nikolic said that he intended to start negotiations with other parties on creating the next cabinet. Nikolic also said he was sure that the runoff was his.

"I believe that the situation is different from four years ago and I am convinced that I will win in the run-off," Nikolic told a news conference. Nikolic added that Tadic would definitely not be able to count on the support of all of those that he had previously counted on.

Ivica Dacic, who ran for president as a candidate of the Socialist Party of Serbia - Party of United Pensioners of Serbia - United Serbia party, thanked citizens for voting for him and his coalition in parliamentary, provincial and local elections.

"Maybe we do not know who will be Serbia's president, but we do know who will be prime minister," Dacic told a news conference, adding on May 7 that his campaign for the next presidential elections would begin as of tomorrow, and that he intended to win.