MPs meet to discuss changes to Law on Ministries

BELGRADE The Serbian parliament is meeting on Monday in Belgrade for a session that will debate a draft proposing changes to the Law on Ministries. MP groups of the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), United Regions of Serbia (URS) and Democratic Party (DS) will put forward amendments to proposed changes to the Serbian Law on Ministries. MPs meet to discuss changes to Law on Ministries The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina (LSV), Together for Serbia (ZZS) and the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) will not do that. DSS whip Slobodan Samardzic said that the party will not support the proposed amendments to the Law on Ministries, and will move no amendments to the proposed changes. The DSS believes that the current government has devalued the reshuffle issue, and therefore “no discussion about the amendments would contribute to anything,” Samardzic said. LSV whip Bojan Kostres said that to table amendments does not make sense as no amendment proposed by the party has been accepted to date. ZZS whip Dusan Petrovic told Tanjug that the ZZS will neither move any amendments nor support the proposed changes. The SVM will also not move any amendments, the party confirmed to Tanjug. On the other hand, the LDP, URS and DS announced putting forward amendments to the proposed amendments to the Law on Ministries. The LDP told Tanjug that they will move six amendments in total, including the request that all ministries prepare their own reorganization plans by October 31 this year, and requests for the elimination of unnecessary jobs and more efficient spending of public funds. URS whip Vladimir Ilic said that the party has submitted several amendments to the proposed changes, among other things, to the idea to divide the Ministry of Finance and Economy. The DS also prepared amendments to the proposed changes, and DS whip Borislav Stefanovic said that the party is requesting the establishment of a ministry for the environment and that it will move several more amendments concerning the Agriculture Ministry. The draft, envisaging a cabinet with 18 ministries, was submitted by the government over the weekend. Parliament's general secretary Janja Ljubicic told Tanjug that only after this law has been adopted, new ministers can be named in another, separate session. She explained that in the general debate that is starting today MP groups will each have five hours, while their heads 20 minutes to debate. After that, the session will take a 24-hour break, and then continue with a debate concerning particulars of the draft, after which a vote can be taken. Ljubicic also said that "old" ministers will have to resign or be relieved of their duty before new ones can be elected. The Serb Progressives (SNS) met over the weekend and nominated party presidency member Igor Mirovic for new minister for regional development and local self-government, while BIA intelligence agency head, Nebojsa Rodic, was nominated for minister of defense. This party on Monday revealed two more of its candidates for cabinet positions. The Socialists (SPS) met on Sunday, after which PM and party leader Ivica Dacic said they had not yet "defined" the names of their candidates. Belgrade Philharmonic Director Ivan Tasovac has reportedly been offered the culture portfolio. SPS official and Health Minister Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic said that the party presidency discussed "some 20 names for four ministries." Also yesterday, it was announced that outgoing Finance and Economy Minister Mladjan Dinkic will continue to work in the government as deputy president of the Committee for Cooperation with the United Arab Emirates. SNS leader and First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vucic said that "people from the Emirates asked for Dinkic in that position." (Tanjug) B92 Beta Tanjug

MPs meet to discuss changes to Law on Ministries

The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina (LSV), Together for Serbia (ZZS) and the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) will not do that.

DSS whip Slobodan Samardžić said that the party will not support the proposed amendments to the Law on Ministries, and will move no amendments to the proposed changes.

The DSS believes that the current government has devalued the reshuffle issue, and therefore “no discussion about the amendments would contribute to anything,” Samardžić said.

LSV whip Bojan Kostreš said that to table amendments does not make sense as no amendment proposed by the party has been accepted to date.

ZZS whip Dušan Petrović told Tanjug that the ZZS will neither move any amendments nor support the proposed changes.

The SVM will also not move any amendments, the party confirmed to Tanjug.

On the other hand, the LDP, URS and DS announced putting forward amendments to the proposed amendments to the Law on Ministries.

The LDP told Tanjug that they will move six amendments in total, including the request that all ministries prepare their own reorganization plans by October 31 this year, and requests for the elimination of unnecessary jobs and more efficient spending of public funds.

URS whip Vladimir Ilić said that the party has submitted several amendments to the proposed changes, among other things, to the idea to divide the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

The DS also prepared amendments to the proposed changes, and DS whip Borislav Stefanovic said that the party is requesting the establishment of a ministry for the environment and that it will move several more amendments concerning the Agriculture Ministry.

The draft, envisaging a cabinet with 18 ministries, was submitted by the government over the weekend.

Parliament's general secretary Janja Ljubičić told Tanjug that only after this law has been adopted, new ministers can be named in another, separate session.

She explained that in the general debate that is starting today MP groups will each have five hours, while their heads 20 minutes to debate.

After that, the session will take a 24-hour break, and then continue with a debate concerning particulars of the draft, after which a vote can be taken.

Ljubičić also said that "old" ministers will have to resign or be relieved of their duty before new ones can be elected.

The Serb Progressives (SNS) met over the weekend and nominated party presidency member Igor Mirović for new minister for regional development and local self-government, while BIA intelligence agency head, Nebojša Rodić, was nominated for minister of defense.

This party on Monday revealed two more of its candidates for cabinet positions.

The Socialists (SPS) met on Sunday, after which PM and party leader Ivica Dačić said they had not yet "defined" the names of their candidates. Belgrade Philharmonic Director Ivan Tasovac has reportedly been offered the culture portfolio.

SPS official and Health Minister Slavica Đukić-Dejanović said that the party presidency discussed "some 20 names for four ministries."

Also yesterday, it was announced that outgoing Finance and Economy Minister Mlađan Dinkić will continue to work in the government as deputy president of the Committee for Cooperation with the United Arab Emirates.

SNS leader and First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vučić said that "people from the Emirates asked for Dinkić in that position."