Emergency parliament session resumes

The emergency meeting of parliament has got under way after a three-hour delay on Friday in Belgrade. After three days in session, only the agenda has been adopted. Emergency parliament session resumes MPs approved a change to the agenda whereby the government's draft resolution on continuing the state policy on Kosovo has been moved from the first to the fourth item for consideration. Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic announced that 135 MPs had backed the motion. The session resumed at 13.00 CET, following a three-hour delay and consultations between the speaker and party whips. At the start of the session, MPs accepted a government proposal to change the session’s original schedule regarding the agenda. Serb Radical Party (SRS) leader Tomislav Nikolic then accused Djukic-Dejanovic of insulting the opposition by accusing them of obstruction. He warned the ruling coalition that for this reason, as well as because of the fact that they were usurping power in the municipalities “the obstruction has only just begun.“ The session was initially due to start at 10.00 CET, but Djukic-Dejanovic rescheduled for 11.00 CET to hold consultations with whips. Later, Deputy Speaker Gordana Comic, presiding, determined that there were enough MPs present in the hall and that parliament had a quorum to begin work, but nonetheless called a recess. The adjournments, it seems, are an attempt to pre-empt what has taken place over the last two days and for an agreement to be reached between the parties so that the session can finally get under way. Nonetheless, it is unlikely that any agreement will be forthcoming. Parliament is due to debate ratification of the SAA. The ruling coalition believes that the opposition is deliberately obstructing parliament. MPs were unable to open the debate yesterday on the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) because the opposition kept insisting that there had been breaches of the Code of Procedure. The session was adjourned, and the parties of the ruling coalition accused the opposition of obstructing parliament’s work. The session was also attended by Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, who, as he put it, had called on MPs to be tolerant and act efficiently. Democratic Party (DS) Whip Nada Kolundzija said that despite the obstruction from the opposition, the ruling majority would find a way for parliament to discuss “vital themes that 70 percent of Serbian citizens voted for at the elections.“ Other than the SAA, the two other items on the agenda of this emergency session of parliament are ratification of the energy deal with Russia and the government’s draft resolution on continuing state policy on Kosovo. Parliament (Beta, archive)

Emergency parliament session resumes

MPs approved a change to the agenda whereby the government's draft resolution on continuing the state policy on Kosovo has been moved from the first to the fourth item for consideration. Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović announced that 135 MPs had backed the motion.

The session resumed at 13.00 CET, following a three-hour delay and consultations between the speaker and party whips.

At the start of the session, MPs accepted a government proposal to change the session’s original schedule regarding the agenda.

Serb Radical Party (SRS) leader Tomislav Nikolić then accused Đukić-Dejanović of insulting the opposition by accusing them of obstruction.

He warned the ruling coalition that for this reason, as well as because of the fact that they were usurping power in the municipalities “the obstruction has only just begun.“

The session was initially due to start at 10.00 CET, but Đukić-Dejanović rescheduled for 11.00 CET to hold consultations with whips.

Later, Deputy Speaker Gordana Čomić, presiding, determined that there were enough MPs present in the hall and that parliament had a quorum to begin work, but nonetheless called a recess.

The adjournments, it seems, are an attempt to pre-empt what has taken place over the last two days and for an agreement to be reached between the parties so that the session can finally get under way. Nonetheless, it is unlikely that any agreement will be forthcoming. Parliament is due to debate ratification of the SAA. The ruling coalition believes that the opposition is deliberately obstructing parliament.

MPs were unable to open the debate yesterday on the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) because the opposition kept insisting that there had been breaches of the Code of Procedure.

The session was adjourned, and the parties of the ruling coalition accused the opposition of obstructing parliament’s work. The session was also attended by Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković, who, as he put it, had called on MPs to be tolerant and act efficiently.

Democratic Party (DS) Whip Nada Kolundžija said that despite the obstruction from the opposition, the ruling majority would find a way for parliament to discuss “vital themes that 70 percent of Serbian citizens voted for at the elections.“

Other than the SAA, the two other items on the agenda of this emergency session of parliament are ratification of the energy deal with Russia and the government’s draft resolution on continuing state policy on Kosovo.