New cabinet elected; PM, ministers take oath of office

BELGRADE The cabinet of Prime Minister Ivica Dacic was elected by the Serbian parliament in Belgrade on Friday with 142 votes in favor. 72 MPs voted against, while 26 abstained. New cabinet elected; PM, ministers take oath of office The new ruling coalition is made up of the Serb Progressive Party (SNS), the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and the United Regions of Serbia (URS) - along with the parties that joined them in alliances forged ahead of the May 6 elections. On Thursday, Dacic presented his cabinet's policy, which was followed by a debate that lasted throughout the evening and into the early hours of Friday. MIrko Cvetkovic formally handed over his duties as prime minister this afternoon, and the new cabinet met for its first session later on Friday. See more of Friday's Photos of the Day The new prime minister and members of his cabinet took the oath of office, worded as follows: "I pledge my loyalty to the Republic of Serbia and by my honor I pledge to respect its Constitution and laws, to perform my duties as member of the government conscientiously, responsibly and in a dedicated manner, and to be committed to keeping Kosovo and Metohija within the Republic of Serbia." The new government has 17 ministries and four offices - for Kosovo, human and minority rights, churches and religious communities, and the diaspora. It has a total of 19 members, including four deputy prime ministers, and will be the smallest the country has seen this side of 1990. Serbia's new PM and leader of the Socialists (SPS) Ivica Dacic for the past four years served as a deputy PM and interior minister in the previous government led by the Democrats (DS) - who today joined the opposition. (Tanjug) Members of the new Serbian government The new government has 17 ministries and 19 members. Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leader Ivica Dacic is prime minister and interior minister. Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) acting leader Aleksandar Vucic is a deputy prime minister in charge of defense, security, combat against corruption and crime, and defense minister. United Regions of Serbia (URS) official Suzana Grubjesic is a deputy prime minister in charge of EU integration and minister without portfolio. Party of United Pensioners of Serbia (PUPS) leader Jovan Krkobabic is a deputy prime minister and labor and social policy minister. Social Democratic Party of Serbia (SDPS) leader Rasim Ljajic is a deputy prime minister and foreign and domestic trade, telecommunications and information society minister. Ivan Mrkic, who is not a member of any party, is new foreign minister. SNS official Nikola Selakovic is justice minister. SNS official Zorana Mihajlovic is an energy, development and environment protection minister. SNS official Milan Bacevic is mining, natural resources and spatial planning minister. SNS’ Goran Knezevic is agriculture minister. SNS’ Bratislav Petkovic is culture and media minister. Alisa Maric, who is not affiliated with any party is sport minister. New Serbia (NS) leader Velimir Ilic is civil engineering and urbanism minister. SPS deputy leader Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic is health minister. SPS official Milutin Mrkonjic is transportation minister. SPS’ Zarko Obradovic is education, science and technological development minster. United Regions of Serbia (URS) leader Mladjan Dinkic is finance and economy minister. Verica Kalanovic of URS is regional development, state administration and local self-government minister. Party of Democratic Action of Sandzak leader Sulejman Ugljanin is minister without portfolio and will head the office for sustainable development. B92 Tanjug

New cabinet elected; PM, ministers take oath of office

The new ruling coalition is made up of the Serb Progressive Party (SNS), the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and the United Regions of Serbia (URS) - along with the parties that joined them in alliances forged ahead of the May 6 elections.

On Thursday, Dačić presented his cabinet's policy, which was followed by a debate that lasted throughout the evening and into the early hours of Friday.

MIrko Cvetković formally handed over his duties as prime minister this afternoon, and the new cabinet met for its first session later on Friday.

See more of Friday's Photos of the Day

The new prime minister and members of his cabinet took the oath of office, worded as follows:

"I pledge my loyalty to the Republic of Serbia and by my honor I pledge to respect its Constitution and laws, to perform my duties as member of the government conscientiously, responsibly and in a dedicated manner, and to be committed to keeping Kosovo and Metohija within the Republic of Serbia."

The new government has 17 ministries and four offices - for Kosovo, human and minority rights, churches and religious communities, and the diaspora.

It has a total of 19 members, including four deputy prime ministers, and will be the smallest the country has seen this side of 1990.

Serbia's new PM and leader of the Socialists (SPS) Ivica Dačić for the past four years served as a deputy PM and interior minister in the previous government led by the Democrats (DS) - who today joined the opposition.

Members of the new Serbian government

The new government has 17 ministries and 19 members.

Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leader Ivica Dačić is prime minister and interior minister.

Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) acting leader Aleksandar Vučić is a deputy prime minister in charge of defense, security, combat against corruption and crime, and defense minister.

United Regions of Serbia (URS) official Suzana Grubješić is a deputy prime minister in charge of EU integration and minister without portfolio.

Party of United Pensioners of Serbia (PUPS) leader Jovan Krkobabić is a deputy prime minister and labor and social policy minister.

Social Democratic Party of Serbia (SDPS) leader Rasim Ljajić is a deputy prime minister and foreign and domestic trade, telecommunications and information society minister.

Ivan Mrkić, who is not a member of any party, is new foreign minister.

SNS official Nikola Selaković is justice minister.

SNS official Zorana Mihajlović is an energy, development and environment protection minister.

SNS official Milan Bačević is mining, natural resources and spatial planning minister.

SNS’ Goran Knežević is agriculture minister.

SNS’ Bratislav Petković is culture and media minister.

Alisa Marić, who is not affiliated with any party is sport minister.

New Serbia (NS) leader Velimir Ilić is civil engineering and urbanism minister.

SPS deputy leader Slavica Đukić-Dejanović is health minister.

SPS official Milutin Mrkonjić is transportation minister.

SPS’ Žarko Obradović is education, science and technological development minster.

United Regions of Serbia (URS) leader Mlađan Dinkić is finance and economy minister.

Verica Kalanović of URS is regional development, state administration and local self-government minister.

Party of Democratic Action of Sandžak leader Sulejman Ugljanin is minister without portfolio and will head the office for sustainable development.