Tadić: Constitution must be respected

At last night's meeting of coalition leaders, President Boris Tadic said he would "guard the Constitution at all costs." B92 has learned from the president’s cabinet that during a meeting with Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and G17 Plus leaders, Vojislav Kostunica and Mladjan Dinkic, Tadic said that, on the basis of the consensus reached by the parties over the Constitution, elections had to be held in line with the law, and that they must be called by the end of the year. Tadic: Constitution must be respected B92’s source reported the president’s view that no party could infringe the Constitution for the sake of their own interests. At last night’s meeting, he said he would protect the stability of state institutions and that as a result, as far as the Democratic Party (DS) was concerned, there was no crisis in terms of the government’s ability to function properly. The same source adds that Tadic, as DS president, has asked all ministers from his party to continue their work as normal to allow the government to function as smoothly as possible. The president expects Kostunica and Dinkic to accept rational arguments for holding the elections in line with the Constitution, and to put the interests of the state above those of their respective parties. He dismissed any doubts as to his commitment to the state negotiating team for Kosovo, and stressed that he would continue to defend the interests of the state unambiguously and to the best of his powers, regardless of the possibility of having to run a electoral campaign parallel to the talks. B92’s source also said that Tadic could in no way see how the issue of presidential elections could be tied to the fate of the governing coalition. Meanwhile, Economy Minister and G17 Plus leader Dinkic said that there was a great desire among the ruling parties to reach an agreement over the election date as soon as possible. Dinkic told journalists that the need for Serbia to be united in implementing key policy reforms in the areas of the economy and Kosovo policy far outweighed the election date in terms of priority. “If our coalition remains united as it has done thus far, then the actual date for elections pales into insignificance next to our unity and support for a joint presidential candidate - and that man is Boris Tadic,“ said Dinkic. The G17 Plus leader added that last night’s talks had been constructive and that everyone wanted to reach a solution that would, as he put it, preserve the coalition’s unity. “The date itself is not a stumbling block, the talks have been very constructive, tolerant, and have consolidated our cooperation so far, and on behalf of G17, I can say that I am more than satisfied with the progress of the talks,“ stressed Dinkic. DSS MP Milos Aligrudic said no agreement had yet been reached over the election date, but expressed the hope that it was only a matter of time. Aligrudic told journalists at the National Parliament that he hoped his party's argument would prevail - namely, that it was pointless to lead an election campaign when the Kosovo talks were reaching their climax, and while other challenges were likely to present themselves in the middle of December. “It’s completely ridiculous, and it should not happen,“ said the DSS MP. He reiterated that presidential, provincial and local elections should be called according to Constitutional Law, that is to say by abiding by the timeframe stipulated therein, and together with the prior adoption of all the necessary laws. Earlier, the Democrat's Nada Kolundzija had said that failure to discuss elections could unravel the ruling coalition. Kolundzija added that, in the event of no agreement being reached on the date for the presidential vote, there was a danger of the ruling coalition collapsing. “It’s a real danger that shouldn’t be overlooked, and Kostunica’s Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) could then look for another coalition partner,“ she warned. “That doesn’t mean parliamentary elections will be called immediately, they might choose the other option – finding another coalition partner,“ the MP said, hinting at the possibility Kostunica may ally himself with one of the opposition parties. Kolundzija added that it was possible for presidential elections to be held in December, and that it was a matter of political will. “Elections must be called by December 31, as it’s a question of legal timeframes,“ she said, stating that a final option was to amend the Constitution. Kostunica, Tadic (B92, archive)

Tadić: Constitution must be respected

B92’s source reported the president’s view that no party could infringe the Constitution for the sake of their own interests.

At last night’s meeting, he said he would protect the stability of state institutions and that as a result, as far as the Democratic Party (DS) was concerned, there was no crisis in terms of the government’s ability to function properly.

The same source adds that Tadić, as DS president, has asked all ministers from his party to continue their work as normal to allow the government to function as smoothly as possible.

The president expects Koštunica and Dinkić to accept rational arguments for holding the elections in line with the Constitution, and to put the interests of the state above those of their respective parties.

He dismissed any doubts as to his commitment to the state negotiating team for Kosovo, and stressed that he would continue to defend the interests of the state unambiguously and to the best of his powers, regardless of the possibility of having to run a electoral campaign parallel to the talks.

B92’s source also said that Tadić could in no way see how the issue of presidential elections could be tied to the fate of the governing coalition.

Meanwhile, Economy Minister and G17 Plus leader Dinkić said that there was a great desire among the ruling parties to reach an agreement over the election date as soon as possible.

Dinkić told journalists that the need for Serbia to be united in implementing key policy reforms in the areas of the economy and Kosovo policy far outweighed the election date in terms of priority.

“If our coalition remains united as it has done thus far, then the actual date for elections pales into insignificance next to our unity and support for a joint presidential candidate - and that man is Boris Tadić,“ said Dinkić.

The G17 Plus leader added that last night’s talks had been constructive and that everyone wanted to reach a solution that would, as he put it, preserve the coalition’s unity.

“The date itself is not a stumbling block, the talks have been very constructive, tolerant, and have consolidated our cooperation so far, and on behalf of G17, I can say that I am more than satisfied with the progress of the talks,“ stressed Dinkić.

DSS MP Miloš Aligrudić said no agreement had yet been reached over the election date, but expressed the hope that it was only a matter of time.

Aligrudić told journalists at the National Parliament that he hoped his party's argument would prevail - namely, that it was pointless to lead an election campaign when the Kosovo talks were reaching their climax, and while other challenges were likely to present themselves in the middle of December.

“It’s completely ridiculous, and it should not happen,“ said the DSS MP.

He reiterated that presidential, provincial and local elections should be called according to Constitutional Law, that is to say by abiding by the timeframe stipulated therein, and together with the prior adoption of all the necessary laws.

Earlier, the Democrat's Nada Kolundžija had said that failure to discuss elections could unravel the ruling coalition.

Kolundžija added that, in the event of no agreement being reached on the date for the presidential vote, there was a danger of the ruling coalition collapsing.

“It’s a real danger that shouldn’t be overlooked, and Koštunica’s Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) could then look for another coalition partner,“ she warned.

“That doesn’t mean parliamentary elections will be called immediately, they might choose the other option – finding another coalition partner,“ the MP said, hinting at the possibility Koštunica may ally himself with one of the opposition parties.

Kolundžija added that it was possible for presidential elections to be held in December, and that it was a matter of political will.

“Elections must be called by December 31, as it’s a question of legal timeframes,“ she said, stating that a final option was to amend the Constitution.