SNS, SRS in new "blackmail" row

Serb Progressive Party (SNS) leader Tomislav Nikolic has accused the SRS of taking EUR 2mn and other benefits in exchange for allowing adoption of the budget. The SNS leader called the Serb Radical Party an “interest group” for dropping their opposition to the budget in return for cash. The SRS have dismissed the claims, while the Democrats say that there was discussion of mandates and committees with the Radicals, but have rejected Nikolic’s talk of a deal. SNS, SRS in new "blackmail" row Nikolic told the press that "the Socialists promised the Radicals that temporary measures would not be introduced in the Zemun local government, that he (Nikolic) would be replaced as chairman of the Parliamentary Administrative Committee and that they would receive EUR 2mn at Vojislav Seselj's request." "I did not hear them make any promises that the SNS would be stripped of any of its mandates, since there are some 50 mandates that could be taken away,“ Nikolic stated. The SNS leader added that “I don't think there was just one demand, I guess we'll find out what all the conditions were and what the ruling coalition did for the blackmailers, and what it didn’t. You could see from the telephone conversations that took place when Vojislav Seselj rang Dragan Todorovic a few times during the session to check whether they’d taken care of everything or not," said Nikolic. Meanwhile, SRS deputy leader Dragan Todorovic has called on President Boris Tadic and Interior Ministry Ivica Dacic to investigate claims that the SRS received EUR 2mn in exchange for dropping the debate on the amendments to the 2009 draft budget law. Todorovic told the press that " Nikolic’s accusation is a most serious charge against Tadic and Dacic, meaning that Serbia is one of the world leaders when it comes to corruption." "If there are funds from which politicians can be paid off, then that has to be proven, or be held accountable for slander. I call on Tadic, and especially Dacic as interior minister, to do all they can and inform the public about these claims," Todorovic demanded. Tomislav Nikolic (FoNet, archive)

SNS, SRS in new "blackmail" row

Nikolić told the press that "the Socialists promised the Radicals that temporary measures would not be introduced in the Zemun local government, that he (Nikolić) would be replaced as chairman of the Parliamentary Administrative Committee and that they would receive EUR 2mn at Vojislav Seselj's request."

"I did not hear them make any promises that the SNS would be stripped of any of its mandates, since there are some 50 mandates that could be taken away,“ Nikolić stated.

The SNS leader added that “I don't think there was just one demand, I guess we'll find out what all the conditions were and what the ruling coalition did for the blackmailers, and what it didn’t. You could see from the telephone conversations that took place when Vojislav Šešelj rang Dragan Todorović a few times during the session to check whether they’d taken care of everything or not," said Nikolić.

Meanwhile, SRS deputy leader Dragan Todorović has called on President Boris Tadić and Interior Ministry Ivica Dačić to investigate claims that the SRS received EUR 2mn in exchange for dropping the debate on the amendments to the 2009 draft budget law.

Todorović told the press that " Nikolić’s accusation is a most serious charge against Tadić and Dačić, meaning that Serbia is one of the world leaders when it comes to corruption."

"If there are funds from which politicians can be paid off, then that has to be proven, or be held accountable for slander. I call on Tadić, and especially Dačić as interior minister, to do all they can and inform the public about these claims," Todorović demanded.