LDP gives ruling coalition quorum

The Serbian ruling coalition has secured a quorum of 133 MPs for Monday’s parliamentary session. This came even though the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) denied their support to the government in today's session. LDP gives ruling coalition quorum Parliament, which began the meeting at 12:00 CET, passed a number of laws , including the one related to renewing old passports, and the contentious set of judical reform bills. Earlier in the day, the SVM told B92 that its four MPs cannot be counted on to secure the quorum, because of the concerns the party has regarding the draft law for court regions and headquarters. But Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejenovic said that there would be a majority of 126 votes for the laws with or without the Hungarians. She did not, however, state who would provide those votes instead of the ethnic Hungarian party. During the course of the day, it became clear that the opposition LDP would back the ruling coalition. “I believe that there will be MPs who will replace them, or individuals, or maybe whole MP groups. I am not sure that those who claim they will not are serious. I think that the parliament will find a way to work,” she said. “Firstly, it is very important to adopt these laws, a majority of the laws. I am primarily concerned with the law for personal travel documents in over for the passports to be valid at the beginning of next year,” Djukic-Dejenovic said. Other than these laws, MPs passed judicial and deposit insurance legislation. After this, parliament is expected to begin debating next year’s budget. Along with the budget, the agenda also includes related taxation laws that are aimed at securing state income. A change to the law on excises is meant to increase taxes on fuel derivatives, cigarettes, beer and coffee next year. The amendments to the customs tariffs law will enable the unilateral implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement with he European Union, and the changes are also expected to decrease the rate of customs charges for the import of automobiles from the European Union. LDP provides quorum Opposition Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP) leader Cedomir Jovanovic said on Monday that his MPs will provide a quorum for voting and thus enable a continuation of the work of parliament, but that they will not vote for bills they consider inadequate. Speaking to reporters in parliament after consultations with the parliament speaker and ahead of the voting that already began, Jovanovic specified that the LDP will not vote for the bill on the seats and areas of jurisdiction of courts and public prosecutors' offices, or the bill on state employees. "LDP MPs will vote against the laws we consider bad, but they will at the same time enable, with their votes, the continuation of the work in parliament and secure a unblocking of the institution that must not be in the position in which it currently is," Jovanovic said. It is very important at this time to demonstrate to the society of Serbia that parliament is capable of practicing a different policy, one that will resolve the problems of citizens, he said.

LDP gives ruling coalition quorum

Parliament, which began the meeting at 12:00 CET, passed a number of laws , including the one related to renewing old passports, and the contentious set of judical reform bills.

Earlier in the day, the SVM told B92 that its four MPs cannot be counted on to secure the quorum, because of the concerns the party has regarding the draft law for court regions and headquarters.

But Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejenović said that there would be a majority of 126 votes for the laws with or without the Hungarians.

She did not, however, state who would provide those votes instead of the ethnic Hungarian party. During the course of the day, it became clear that the opposition LDP would back the ruling coalition.

“I believe that there will be MPs who will replace them, or individuals, or maybe whole MP groups. I am not sure that those who claim they will not are serious. I think that the parliament will find a way to work,” she said.

“Firstly, it is very important to adopt these laws, a majority of the laws. I am primarily concerned with the law for personal travel documents in over for the passports to be valid at the beginning of next year,” Đukić-Dejenović said.

Other than these laws, MPs passed judicial and deposit insurance legislation. After this, parliament is expected to begin debating next year’s budget.

Along with the budget, the agenda also includes related taxation laws that are aimed at securing state income. A change to the law on excises is meant to increase taxes on fuel derivatives, cigarettes, beer and coffee next year.

The amendments to the customs tariffs law will enable the unilateral implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement with he European Union, and the changes are also expected to decrease the rate of customs charges for the import of automobiles from the European Union.

LDP provides quorum

Opposition Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP) leader Čedomir Jovanović said on Monday that his MPs will provide a quorum for voting and thus enable a continuation of the work of parliament, but that they will not vote for bills they consider inadequate.

Speaking to reporters in parliament after consultations with the parliament speaker and ahead of the voting that already began, Jovanović specified that the LDP will not vote for the bill on the seats and areas of jurisdiction of courts and public prosecutors' offices, or the bill on state employees.

"LDP MPs will vote against the laws we consider bad, but they will at the same time enable, with their votes, the continuation of the work in parliament and secure a unblocking of the institution that must not be in the position in which it currently is," Jovanović said.

It is very important at this time to demonstrate to the society of Serbia that parliament is capable of practicing a different policy, one that will resolve the problems of citizens, he said.