Deputy PM baffled by "new relations in govt."

Ivica Dacic says that criticism heard from the ruling Democrats (DS) official Dragan Djilas means that there are "new relations" within the reshuffled cabinet. Djilas, who is also Belgrade mayor, has strongly criticized Infrastructure Minister Milutin Mrkonjic of the Socialist Party (SPS). Deputy PM baffled by "new relations in govt." Dacic is the SPS leader and interior minister and deputy PM in the Cvetkovic cabinet, where his party and DS are coalition partners. Dacic told reporters that he was wondering whether the relations withing the government were "fair" after the reshuffle earlier this year - "if a DS deputy president is criticizing an SPS minister". "It shows there are some new relations within the government," he told RTV Vojvodina. Commenting on the overall political scene in Serbia, Dacic noted that the Socialists and their pre-election coalition partners - the JS and PUPS parties - have found themselves "in a specific situation, where they are under constant surveillance" by both the Democrats and the opposition Progressives (SNS). This is the case, he continued, "because of doubts about who we will join in the (next) government, when the time comes". "SPS wishes to have its own political identity... we are not appendage to either party," Dacic asserted, and added that Tomislav Nikolic's SNS treated his party unfairly in their statements, "because they are aware that SPS will be as strong as they are weak". The Socialists, he explained, see their relations with the Democrats as having "higher priority", and would like to forge another coalition with them after the next general election. Dacic also believes that "as far as partisan interests go", it is of no consequence whether voting will take place in December or January. Ivica Dacic (Beta)

Deputy PM baffled by "new relations in govt."

Dačić is the SPS leader and interior minister and deputy PM in the Cvetković cabinet, where his party and DS are coalition partners.

Dačić told reporters that he was wondering whether the relations withing the government were "fair" after the reshuffle earlier this year - "if a DS deputy president is criticizing an SPS minister".

"It shows there are some new relations within the government," he told RTV Vojvodina.

Commenting on the overall political scene in Serbia, Dačić noted that the Socialists and their pre-election coalition partners - the JS and PUPS parties - have found themselves "in a specific situation, where they are under constant surveillance" by both the Democrats and the opposition Progressives (SNS).

This is the case, he continued, "because of doubts about who we will join in the (next) government, when the time comes".

"SPS wishes to have its own political identity... we are not appendage to either party," Dačić asserted, and added that Tomislav Nikolić's SNS treated his party unfairly in their statements, "because they are aware that SPS will be as strong as they are weak".

The Socialists, he explained, see their relations with the Democrats as having "higher priority", and would like to forge another coalition with them after the next general election.

Dačić also believes that "as far as partisan interests go", it is of no consequence whether voting will take place in December or January.