SNS official opposed to Socialists joining new government

SNS official opposed to Socialists joining new government

"It is to be expected that when some difficult decisions are being made, or when pressures on Serbia are being stood up to, somebody from those ranks would show up, whose position would be completely opposite to the government's, leaving enough room for the public to consider whether this was the real, while supposedly disguised position of the SPS."

According to Stefanovic, the government would in this way diminish its strength, "while citizens of Serbia would gain nothing."

"You cannot have ministers and work against the prime minister's program. Anyway, the SPS can act any way they wish, but it would be honest if they did it in opposition," he said.

Stefanovic then stressed that SNS leader and Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and his party "made themselves completely clear when they spoke about the need for unity to be the foundation of the new government so that Serbia could continue on the road of strong economic development and growth."

"Today it is quite obvious to me that the SPS either does not understand this, or does not wish to," he concluded.

This statement came after SPS official Branko Ruzic told the weekly NIN his party will "most likely" join Serbia's new government.

The SNS and the SPS are coalition partners in the now caretaker government, with SPS leader Ivica Dacic serving as Vucic's first deputy, and foreign minister.

Stefanovic in the past on several occasions opposed continued cooperation with the Socialists, and openly clashed with SPS officials, even as the two parties cooperated in the government.

Another SNS official and cabinet minister, Zorana Mihajlovic, is also openly opposed to her party's partnership with the SPS.