Hungarians turn down deputy PM spot

The Hungarian coalition has turned down the offer of a deputy prime ministerial place in the new govt., it was announced at a press conference in Subotica today. It was added that talks were due to end in the next 48 hours. Hungarians turn down deputy PM spot Hungarian Coalition leader Istvan Pastor said that accepting a deputy prime ministerial post without a ministry would be tantamount to the “role of a plant picking up dust“, though he did not wish to say which ministry the Hungarian coalition was interested in. “There is speculation that we’d like the ministry for minority rights. We certainly believe such a ministry should be formed, but we don’t think someone from the ranks of the minority parties should take this role, but rather someone from the majority,” said Pastor. The Hungarian coalition leader added that he wanted a place in the new government where there was plenty of work, and where concrete decisions could be taken. He said that talks had started at local level, and that the Hungarian coalition was not giving up on the position of Subotica mayor. Democratic Party (DS) spokeswoman Jelena Trivan said today that talks over the new government were running normally, and that the selection of a new cabinet was expected next week. Asked whether talks were jeopardized by the Hungarian coalition’s rejection, Trivan repeated that talks were going well and at a good speed. She added that President Boris Tadic had nominated a prime minister on the basis of the fact that a parliamentary majority had been formed. All that remained was to form a cabinet and those talks were under way, Trivan said, reiterating that on Monday, parliament would begin a debate on amendments to the Law on the Government and the Law on Ministries, stating that a new government could realistically be formed by the end of the week. Asked when ratification of the gas agreement and the Stabilization and Association (SAA) Agreement would be on the agenda, the spokeswoman replied that “schedule expected in parliament” were the aforesaid laws, followed by “the most pressing things that await Serbia—the gas deal, the SAA, and ratification of credit arrangements that have been on hold since last year.”

Hungarians turn down deputy PM spot

Hungarian Coalition leader Ištvan Pastor said that accepting a deputy prime ministerial post without a ministry would be tantamount to the “role of a plant picking up dust“, though he did not wish to say which ministry the Hungarian coalition was interested in.

“There is speculation that we’d like the ministry for minority rights. We certainly believe such a ministry should be formed, but we don’t think someone from the ranks of the minority parties should take this role, but rather someone from the majority,” said Pastor.

The Hungarian coalition leader added that he wanted a place in the new government where there was plenty of work, and where concrete decisions could be taken.

He said that talks had started at local level, and that the Hungarian coalition was not giving up on the position of Subotica mayor.

Democratic Party (DS) spokeswoman Jelena Trivan said today that talks over the new government were running normally, and that the selection of a new cabinet was expected next week.

Asked whether talks were jeopardized by the Hungarian coalition’s rejection, Trivan repeated that talks were going well and at a good speed.

She added that President Boris Tadić had nominated a prime minister on the basis of the fact that a parliamentary majority had been formed.

All that remained was to form a cabinet and those talks were under way, Trivan said, reiterating that on Monday, parliament would begin a debate on amendments to the Law on the Government and the Law on Ministries, stating that a new government could realistically be formed by the end of the week.

Asked when ratification of the gas agreement and the Stabilization and Association (SAA) Agreement would be on the agenda, the spokeswoman replied that “schedule expected in parliament” were the aforesaid laws, followed by “the most pressing things that await Serbia—the gas deal, the SAA, and ratification of credit arrangements that have been on hold since last year.”