Squabble over public enterprises

The dispute over control of the country's public enterprises shows few signs of abating. According to a recent ruling coalition agreement, the majority of directors’ posts within public and state enterprises should belong to the Democrats (DS). Squabble over public enterprises G17 Plus Vice-President Ivana Dulic Markovic told B92’s Poligraf program yesterday that the posts within the executive boards had been split 3-2-1, according to how the parties had faired at the general election. She thinks that a "feudal distribution" of the companies will occur regardless of whether or not one party has a majority on any one particular board. "I think this will happen, and it was a subject of criticism of the last government. I think the Democratic Party (DS) won a lot of votes precisely by criticizing that system and the National Investment Plan (NIP), but in the end it turns out to be a plus and now they’re using that same system for their own benefit," said Dulic Markovic. Under the terms of the coalition agreement, the DS will have the most managerial posts, while G17 Plus will have the same as before. The DS will take over at Telekom Srbija, NIS and Dunav Osiguranje (Danube Insurance) that have until now been run by the Democratic Party of Serbia. DS representatives will also be in charge of the National Lottery. A new feature of the system will be that the party whose representative occupies the post of CEO will have a majority within the executive board. "Blatant haggling" Biljana Stepanovic, a director at the Ekonomist Media Group, told B92 that it was not so important which party got places within the executive boards. According to her, what has been more striking and has left a bad impression is the fact the parties have been haggling over the executive posts in a very inappropriate fashion. "This kind of bargaining is more suited to a street market, and for days, we’ve been watching to see what deals they’ll come to, and what concessions they’re prepared to make." "The very fact that the parties are haggling over these posts in such a manner demonstrates a lack of integrity. I really don’t think they should be conducting themselves like this, and that there should be at least some sort of respect shown towards the citizens who elected them, and before whom they are ultimately answerable," Stepanovic said.

Squabble over public enterprises

G17 Plus Vice-President Ivana Dulić Marković told B92’s Poligraf program yesterday that the posts within the executive boards had been split 3-2-1, according to how the parties had faired at the general election.

She thinks that a "feudal distribution" of the companies will occur regardless of whether or not one party has a majority on any one particular board.

"I think this will happen, and it was a subject of criticism of the last government. I think the Democratic Party (DS) won a lot of votes precisely by criticizing that system and the National Investment Plan (NIP), but in the end it turns out to be a plus and now they’re using that same system for their own benefit," said Dulić Marković.

Under the terms of the coalition agreement, the DS will have the most managerial posts, while G17 Plus will have the same as before. The DS will take over at Telekom Srbija, NIS and Dunav Osiguranje (Danube Insurance) that have until now been run by the Democratic Party of Serbia. DS representatives will also be in charge of the National Lottery.

A new feature of the system will be that the party whose representative occupies the post of CEO will have a majority within the executive board.

"Blatant haggling"

Biljana Stepanović, a director at the Ekonomist Media Group, told B92 that it was not so important which party got places within the executive boards.

According to her, what has been more striking and has left a bad impression is the fact the parties have been haggling over the executive posts in a very inappropriate fashion.

"This kind of bargaining is more suited to a street market, and for days, we’ve been watching to see what deals they’ll come to, and what concessions they’re prepared to make."

"The very fact that the parties are haggling over these posts in such a manner demonstrates a lack of integrity. I really don’t think they should be conducting themselves like this, and that there should be at least some sort of respect shown towards the citizens who elected them, and before whom they are ultimately answerable," Stepanović said.