Deputy PM: Early elections possible in 2013

BELGRADE Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister Rasim Ljajic has said that he does not rule out a possibility that early elections might take place next year. The Social Democratic Party of Serbia (SDPS) leader said that experience had taught him that elections were always possible in Serbia, “even when you least expect them”, but added that this had not been discussed either inside the government or among the members of the ruling coalition. Deputy PM: Early elections possible in 2013 "Of course I think about that. A party in power and therefore in the parliament has to be aware all the time that elections might occur," Ljajic said. “Serbia is at the crossroads and everyone in the government agrees on many important issues, including the dialogue in Brussels, the fight against corruption and economic recovery,” he noted. “This, however, does not exclude the possibility that the ruling coalition, being faced with many issues, chooses to have early elections,” the deputy PM pointed out, adding that the election campaign would be based on the issues related to the EU integration and values and economic topics. “The government unambiguously directs Serbia towards EU membership, but many are trying to abuse the crisis within the EU and enlargement fatigue and stop Serbia on its path of integration,” he stressed. "I believe that this will increasingly come to the fore and that economic issues and this issue as well will be something that will dominate the next year's campaign for some elections, whenever they may come," said Ljajic who is also the minister of trade. He stressed that Serbia must not miss the chance of getting the green light for EU membership in June. Asked to comment on media speculations about the government's disunity, especially when it comes to the platform on Kosovo, Ljajic said that it was normal that there were disagreements about certain political topics, which was all part of the democratic process of governance, but added that there were no divisions when it came to substantive issues, such as the fight against corruption or the dialogue that Prime Minister Ivica Dacic was having in Brussels. "The fact is that we have negotiations that are underway and should continue and whose goal for us should be to resolve those issues, to protect our interests and obtain a date for the beginning of (EU accession) talks," he concluded. Rasim Ljajic (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Deputy PM: Early elections possible in 2013

"Of course I think about that. A party in power and therefore in the parliament has to be aware all the time that elections might occur," Ljajić said.

“Serbia is at the crossroads and everyone in the government agrees on many important issues, including the dialogue in Brussels, the fight against corruption and economic recovery,” he noted.

“This, however, does not exclude the possibility that the ruling coalition, being faced with many issues, chooses to have early elections,” the deputy PM pointed out, adding that the election campaign would be based on the issues related to the EU integration and values and economic topics.

“The government unambiguously directs Serbia towards EU membership, but many are trying to abuse the crisis within the EU and enlargement fatigue and stop Serbia on its path of integration,” he stressed.

"I believe that this will increasingly come to the fore and that economic issues and this issue as well will be something that will dominate the next year's campaign for some elections, whenever they may come," said Ljajić who is also the minister of trade.

He stressed that Serbia must not miss the chance of getting the green light for EU membership in June.

Asked to comment on media speculations about the government's disunity, especially when it comes to the platform on Kosovo, Ljajić said that it was normal that there were disagreements about certain political topics, which was all part of the democratic process of governance, but added that there were no divisions when it came to substantive issues, such as the fight against corruption or the dialogue that Prime Minister Ivica Dačić was having in Brussels.

"The fact is that we have negotiations that are underway and should continue and whose goal for us should be to resolve those issues, to protect our interests and obtain a date for the beginning of (EU accession) talks," he concluded.