Serbia's fourth election in 21 months will be held June 13, Parliamentary Speaker and acting President Predrag Markovic said at a news conference in Belgrade on April 4.

Due to election regulations demanding a turnout of at least 50 percent, Serbia, the major partner in the two republic union of Serbia and Montenegro, has been without a president since January last year when Milan Milutinovic's term in office ended.

Milutinovic was one of the leaders of the Socialist Party of Serbia and right-hand man of former dictator Slobodan Milosevic. Along with his former boss, Milutinovic was indicted for war crimes.

In February, Parliament scrapped the election law provision requiring the minimum 50 percent turnout for an election to be valid.

The Japan Times Weekly: April 10, 2004
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