With nationalists and Socialists politically in the ascendant, champions of closer economic ties to Russia are feeling the wind is behind them.

The Socialists and Progressives, who shared power in the 1990s, when the Progressives’ members were Radicals, are back in office – but have they changed heart since then?

The leader of the Progressives won the Serbian presidency after serenading the EU – but his hardline supporters still wish he was singing Chetnik anthems.

Promises of hundreds of new jobs made during the election campaign will soon be forgotten as reducing the deficit becomes a certain priority for the new team.

Although voters gave the ruling Democrats a convincing mandate to continue running the capital, few expect their everyday lives to get much better as a result.

Once a marginal force in politics, Ivica Dacic's Socialists have doubled their seats in parliament by profiting from the weaknesses of their rivals and playing the nationalist card.

As the election campaign in Serbia moves into its last days, significant policy differences between the front-running Democrats and Progressives have failed to emerge.

Since the renewal of multi-party politics in 1990 power has oscillated between a variety of parties in Serbia and votes have often followed by allegations of frauds and protests.