Belgrade mayor says authorities "introducing dictatorship"

BELGRADE Dragan Djilas held a news conference on Tuesday in Belgrade, to tell reporters that "dictatorship" was being introduced in Serbia. Investigations should be the job for the prosecution and the police, not for Aleksandar Vucic, the Belgrade mayor and Democratic Party (DS) leader noted. Belgrade mayor says authorities "introducing dictatorship" "Who is he investigating? In line with what law and what Constitution? Where does the first deputy prime minister obtain information about which cafes the leader of an opposition party frequents?," Djilas asked. The Belgrade mayor was reacting to a statement made by Vucic during the recent cabinet reshuffle debate in parliament, when he said that he had "no favorite opposition that he was meeting with in cafes," and mentioned a cafe owned by a person close to Djilas. "Dictatorship is being introduced in Serbia, where one man has all the power while others may not even express an opinion," said Djilas, and added that the police and prosecutors should investigate all matters related to his business dealing, and stressed he was confident that "nothing will be found" - because he said he was acting in line with the law. Djilasadded that he was not afraid of elections, while he believed that judgment on his mayorship should be made by the Belgraders who elected him to the office. The question of Djilas' survival at the helm of the capital city's administration resurfaced with the government reshuffle, that saw President of the City Assembly Aleksandar Antic (SPS) leave to take over as Minister of Transport. The DS is in opposition on the state level, but is in a coalition with Dacic's ruling Socialists (SPS) in Belgrade. Djilas also said that his party will participate in the fall's elections in Kosovo, and will also have nonpartisan candidates on its list. He said that the DS was not invited to participate in a single list, and that the party's provincial board in Kosovo decided to take part in the local elections scheduled for November 3. "Everyone knows that those are Kosovo elections, which are conducted according to the laws of Kosovo, and that's not easy, but it is important that the Serbs, where they are a majority, win and take over the local government," said Djilas. (Tanjug) B92 Beta Tanjug

Belgrade mayor says authorities "introducing dictatorship"

"Who is he investigating? In line with what law and what Constitution? Where does the first deputy prime minister obtain information about which cafes the leader of an opposition party frequents?," Đilas asked.

The Belgrade mayor was reacting to a statement made by Vučić during the recent cabinet reshuffle debate in parliament, when he said that he had "no favorite opposition that he was meeting with in cafes," and mentioned a cafe owned by a person close to Đilas.

"Dictatorship is being introduced in Serbia, where one man has all the power while others may not even express an opinion," said Đilas, and added that the police and prosecutors should investigate all matters related to his business dealing, and stressed he was confident that "nothing will be found" - because he said he was acting in line with the law.

Đilasadded that he was not afraid of elections, while he believed that judgment on his mayorship should be made by the Belgraders who elected him to the office.

The question of Đilas' survival at the helm of the capital city's administration resurfaced with the government reshuffle, that saw President of the City Assembly Aleksandar Antić (SPS) leave to take over as Minister of Transport. The DS is in opposition on the state level, but is in a coalition with Dačić's ruling Socialists (SPS) in Belgrade.

Đilas also said that his party will participate in the fall's elections in Kosovo, and will also have nonpartisan candidates on its list.

He said that the DS was not invited to participate in a single list, and that the party's provincial board in Kosovo decided to take part in the local elections scheduled for November 3.

"Everyone knows that those are Kosovo elections, which are conducted according to the laws of Kosovo, and that's not easy, but it is important that the Serbs, where they are a majority, win and take over the local government," said Đilas.