Parliament body debates "MP behavior"

The Serbian parliament speaker has called a session of the Collegium in order to discuss offensive debates in which MPs have recently been engaging. Specifically, this parliamentary body looked at this week's exchange between some members of parliament and Economy Minister Mladjan Dinkic, and decided to ban SNS leader Tomislav Nikolic from taking part in discussions until the end of the current session of parliament. Parliament body debates "MP behavior" Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic told B92 ahead of the Collegium meeting today that she had requested a tape of the session, held on Wednesday, where insults were heard. Opposition SNS MP Jorgovanka Tabakovic claims that Dinkic addressed her with the words, "you mongrel", during a recess in the session, while Dinkic responded to this by denying the allegation, and adding he merely told his fellow MP that she "lied like a dog". On the same day, Suzana Grubjesic of Dinkic's G17 Plus was involved in yet another verbal incident, this time with opposition MP Velimir Ilic, when she implied that he was under the influence of alcohol, and advised him to undergo a breathalyzer test; something that Ilic duly performed at the parliament infirmary, to prove that he was sober. Tomislav Nikolic, who was at the center of the Collegium interest today, said that on Wednesday, he did curse at Dinkic while the microphone in front of him was still on, despite the fact that a recess had been called, but added that he also apologized. Nikolic noted that Djukic-Dejanovic "ought to reflect on how the situation got to the point where those present almost engaged in a fist fight". "My fine is that I had to apologize to Dinkic," said Nikolic. "I have received my punishment." Meanwhile, Djukic-Dejanovic stated that when she called a short recess, the microphones were still switched on, "and one of MPs uttered objectionable words". "I am yet to see that tape, I have requested it from RTS, so that we can review it together at the Collegium meeting and decide on the measures to be undertaken," said she. The speaker also commented on the subject by saying that "some MPs outbursts" were the reason Serbians showed little trust in parliament as an institution, "regardless of the fact that much good has been done there". Djukic-Dejanovic, left, and Tabakovic, right, in parliament (Beta)

Parliament body debates "MP behavior"

Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović told B92 ahead of the Collegium meeting today that she had requested a tape of the session, held on Wednesday, where insults were heard.

Opposition SNS MP Jorgovanka Tabaković claims that Dinkić addressed her with the words, "you mongrel", during a recess in the session, while Dinkić responded to this by denying the allegation, and adding he merely told his fellow MP that she "lied like a dog".

On the same day, Suzana Grubješić of Dinkić's G17 Plus was involved in yet another verbal incident, this time with opposition MP Velimir Ilić, when she implied that he was under the influence of alcohol, and advised him to undergo a breathalyzer test; something that Ilić duly performed at the parliament infirmary, to prove that he was sober.

Tomislav Nikolić, who was at the center of the Collegium interest today, said that on Wednesday, he did curse at Dinkić while the microphone in front of him was still on, despite the fact that a recess had been called, but added that he also apologized.

Nikolić noted that Đukić-Dejanović "ought to reflect on how the situation got to the point where those present almost engaged in a fist fight".

"My fine is that I had to apologize to Dinkić," said Nikolić. "I have received my punishment."

Meanwhile, Đukić-Dejanović stated that when she called a short recess, the microphones were still switched on, "and one of MPs uttered objectionable words".

"I am yet to see that tape, I have requested it from RTS, so that we can review it together at the Collegium meeting and decide on the measures to be undertaken," said she.

The speaker also commented on the subject by saying that "some MPs outbursts" were the reason Serbians showed little trust in parliament as an institution, "regardless of the fact that much good has been done there".