SNS MP to run for party president

BELGRADE Vladimir Cvijan, an MP from the ranks of the ruling SNS, has announced that he will be a candidate in elections to choose the party's president. "Starting today, I am entering my election campaign," Cvijan told reporters on Monday. SNS MP to run for party president He accused the Progressives (SNS) and their leader Aleksandar Vucic of "doing what the Progressives fought against," and said he was "ashamed to witness that." "My SNS has turned into everything we have been fighting against. The biggest problems is that everything is in Vucic's hands, while the presidency is turning into 'a bulletin' detailing who will be arrested next," he stated, and added: "Let courts and prosecutions take care of that, rather than the party organs." Cvijan then asked Vucic "why he did not respect the law." This MP claims that the last three SNS presidency meetings heard discussions about "who will be arrested," and that this included Milan Beko, Miodrag Kostic, Dusan Spasojevic, Mladjan Dinkic, Veroljub Stefanovic ("since Vucic is unable to sack him"), as well as "some people from the SNS - because Vucic does not like them, several directors, Marko Jaksic, Cedomir Jovanovic, Dragan Djilas." According to Cvijan, "an order has been placed for the arrest of Dusan Bajatovic" as well. He also said that "many in the party have withdrawn, because one man is making all the decisions," and that Dmitar Djurovic, who heads the Koridori Srbije company, "was mentioned in the same context." "That will no longer be possible," Cvijan said. According to him, the indictment raised against Delta Holding owner Miroslav Miskovic is "nonsensical" and in reality represents "an emotional problem that Vucic has with the accused." Cvijan then said that some municipal presidents and mayors have been told "to either resign, or have investigations launched against them." He also announced that during the campaign, he would tour SNS committees that have been experiencing problems, "although it is not allowed to talk about that." Cvijan said he would also visit Danilo Babic from Vrbas, a member of the Democratic Party (DS), who claims he was assaulted by "persons close to the Progressives." "I will tell you openly, there have been attacks (on Babic)," Cvijan told journalists. He then stated that opposition parties were right when they said that the economic situation was "catastrophic" and that 60,000 people would be laid off. There have been no foreign investments, "save one used airplane," he added. Cvijan called on Vucic "to return to the party's original principles," and said he hoped for "a polite" campaign. The party is set to hold its electoral assembly on January 25. SNS Vice-President Zorana Mihajlovic commented on Cvijan's announcement that he would run for SNS president by saying she did not believe that "one man will be a problem for a party that has 400,000 people." "It's no secret that reporters are always asking about Oliver Antic and Cvijan. This needs to be discussed, why some people are making some statements for the media, without first agreeing about this at the party's organs, at least agreeing on a framework. They cannot place speculation via the media, it is necessary that we talk first, and if somebody does not like it, if they do not like the framework, then it's known what comes next," she told B92. Vladimir Cvijan (Tanjug) Beta Tanjug

SNS MP to run for party president

He accused the Progressives (SNS) and their leader Aleksandar Vučić of "doing what the Progressives fought against," and said he was "ashamed to witness that."

"My SNS has turned into everything we have been fighting against. The biggest problems is that everything is in Vučić's hands, while the presidency is turning into 'a bulletin' detailing who will be arrested next," he stated, and added:

"Let courts and prosecutions take care of that, rather than the party organs."

Cvijan then asked Vučić "why he did not respect the law."

This MP claims that the last three SNS presidency meetings heard discussions about "who will be arrested," and that this included Milan Beko, Miodrag Kostić, Dušan Spasojević, Mlađan Dinkić, Veroljub Stefanović ("since Vučić is unable to sack him"), as well as "some people from the SNS - because Vučić does not like them, several directors, Marko Jakšić, Čedomir Jovanović, Dragan Đilas."

According to Cvijan, "an order has been placed for the arrest of Dušan Bajatović" as well.

He also said that "many in the party have withdrawn, because one man is making all the decisions," and that Dmitar Đurović, who heads the Koridori Srbije company, "was mentioned in the same context."

"That will no longer be possible," Cvijan said.

According to him, the indictment raised against Delta Holding owner Miroslav Mišković is "nonsensical" and in reality represents "an emotional problem that Vučić has with the accused."

Cvijan then said that some municipal presidents and mayors have been told "to either resign, or have investigations launched against them."

He also announced that during the campaign, he would tour SNS committees that have been experiencing problems, "although it is not allowed to talk about that."

Cvijan said he would also visit Danilo Babić from Vrbas, a member of the Democratic Party (DS), who claims he was assaulted by "persons close to the Progressives."

"I will tell you openly, there have been attacks (on Babić)," Cvijan told journalists.

He then stated that opposition parties were right when they said that the economic situation was "catastrophic" and that 60,000 people would be laid off.

There have been no foreign investments, "save one used airplane," he added.

Cvijan called on Vučić "to return to the party's original principles," and said he hoped for "a polite" campaign.

The party is set to hold its electoral assembly on January 25.

SNS Vice-President Zorana Mihajlović commented on Cvijan's announcement that he would run for SNS president by saying she did not believe that "one man will be a problem for a party that has 400,000 people."

"It's no secret that reporters are always asking about Oliver Antić and Cvijan. This needs to be discussed, why some people are making some statements for the media, without first agreeing about this at the party's organs, at least agreeing on a framework. They cannot place speculation via the media, it is necessary that we talk first, and if somebody does not like it, if they do not like the framework, then it's known what comes next," she told B92.