DS, DSS short of breaking cabinet deadlock

DS, DSS short of breaking cabinet deadlock

DSS leader Vojislav Koštunica yesterday presented DS head Boris Tadić with his proposal for the final make-up of a new government. In response to Koštunica’s offer, Tadić proposed his own portfolio distribution list.

Koštunica told Tanjug news agency today his party so far did not hear any rational argument as to why the Democrats flatly refused the DSS’s cabinet offer.

“Instead of considering our offer which acknowledged the DS and G17 Plus’s previously stated proposals, the Democrats replied with their own offer which completely annuls everything that has so far been achieved,” Koštunica argued describing his offer as balanced and fair.

He added that the DS thus blocked the formation of the government

On the other hand, Democrats’ leader Boris Tadić said that his party was ready to sign a cabinet deal which would entail “mutual control of the security sector,”  all the while stressing that "it will not give up on its strategic goals, which include Serbia's joining the EU as soon as possible."

Democrats insist on MUP

The Democrats offered the DSS a prime minister post, and portfolios including defense, international economic relations, capital investments, public administration and local self-government, education, religion as well as the Kosovo ministry.

The state security agency (BIA) chief would also belong to the DSS, with his deputy coming from the DS ranks, and current police (MUP) chief Milorad Veljović retaining office.

The Democrats would thus occupy the post of deputy prime minister in charge of Euro-Atlantic integrations, and be in control of following portfolios: MUP, finance, foreign affairs, justice, energy, trade, labor and social policy, ecology, culture, human and minority rights, as well as agriculture and balanced regional development.

The same offer envisages four ministries for G17 Plus: economy, science, health and sport.

The Democrats will also get the Roads Directorate, Government’s Public Relation Office, with the DSS representative as its spokesperson.

Radovan Jelašić from G17 Plus will retain his post as the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) governor, while the NBS Governor Council would be comprised of the DS and DSS representatives.

Tadić also insisted that Serbian Army Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Zdravko Ponoš remained in office.

The expiry date set for the formation of the new government is May 14. If the deadline is not met, Serbia will face new elections.

Koštunica: DSS offer is well-devised and balanced

DSS spokesperson Andreja Mladenović revealed his party’s cabinet offer, according to which the DSS-New Serbia (NS) coalition retains premiership and control of seven portfolios, as the Democrats would get deputy prime minister post, twelve ministries, and Parliament speaker office.

As said by daily Večernje Novosti, G17 Plus would be in charge of four ministries.

The Democrats would thus get finance, defense, foreign affairs, justice, energy, trade, social policy, telecommunications, ecology and sports ministries.

The DSS-NS coalition would hold on to interior ministry and agriculture, capital investments, public administration, education and religion portfolios.

They also proposed a joint administration of the security agency (BIA), including two co-heads instead of a usual one, so that both the DS and DSS could lead the agency.

According to their distribution, G17 Plus would be in control of the economy ministry that would incorporate commerce, tourism and international economic relations departments.

DS leader Vojislav Koštunica told the Tanjug agency that his cabinet offer was well-devised and balanced.