In January 1999, the SPO joined a coalition government in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia that was led by the SPS, the JUL, and the Socialist People's Party of Montenegro. Vuk Drašković became a deputy prime minister, and Božić was among the other SPO members appointed to the cabinet, serving as a minister without portfolio. A month after his appointment, Božić joined Drašković in representing the SPO in the talks in Rambouillet that sought a negotiated end to the Kosovo War.