Security Committee dismisses chairman

The Parliamentary Committee on Security and Defense relieved Dragan Todorovic (SRS) of his duties as president of the committee. Ruling coalition officials stated that Todorovic was removed because he was using the work of the committee for the promotion of his party, the opposition SRS. Security Committee dismisses chairman Ruling Democratic Party (DS) official Marko Djurisic called for the first point of the agenda on Monday to be Todorovic’s dismissal, even though it was expected to be discussed on Tuesday. Djurisic explained that a parliamentary session would be held on Tuesday as well, and that many committee members would have to be in attendance. He said that Todorovic’s dismissal was requested because officials of the ruling majority believe that he was misusing his position as president of the committee for promoting his party, calling meetings in a way that was not proper according to the rules of the committee, and disrespecting committee members from the ruling majority. Opposition DSS official Dragan Sormaz said that he did not believe that DS’s accusations related to Todorovics alleged promotion of his own party were serious, while opposition NS official Miroslav Markicevic asked why the question of Todorovic’s dismissal was being raised at this point, since the ruling majority claimed that his performance had been poor for two years. Once the debate regarding the dismissal ends, the committee will see whether the two other points on the agenda will be discussed – the analysis of the work of state institutions in the fight against organized crimes, and various other topics. The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Ivica Dacic, Police Director Milorad Veljovic, Security Information Agency (BIA) Director Sasa Vukadinovic, and Justice Minister Snezana Malovic. The committee's session was originally postponed last week. Dragan Todorovic (Beta)

Security Committee dismisses chairman

Ruling Democratic Party (DS) official Marko Đurišić called for the first point of the agenda on Monday to be Todorović’s dismissal, even though it was expected to be discussed on Tuesday.

Đurišić explained that a parliamentary session would be held on Tuesday as well, and that many committee members would have to be in attendance.

He said that Todorović’s dismissal was requested because officials of the ruling majority believe that he was misusing his position as president of the committee for promoting his party, calling meetings in a way that was not proper according to the rules of the committee, and disrespecting committee members from the ruling majority.

Opposition DSS official Dragan Šormaz said that he did not believe that DS’s accusations related to Todorovićs alleged promotion of his own party were serious, while opposition NS official Miroslav Markićević asked why the question of Todorović’s dismissal was being raised at this point, since the ruling majority claimed that his performance had been poor for two years.

Once the debate regarding the dismissal ends, the committee will see whether the two other points on the agenda will be discussed – the analysis of the work of state institutions in the fight against organized crimes, and various other topics.

The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Ivica Dačić, Police Director Milorad Veljović, Security Information Agency (BIA) Director Saša Vukadinović, and Justice Minister Snežana Malović.

The committee's session was originally postponed last week.