Govt. reshuffle that wouldn't bring changes

The ruling coalition parties are set to discuss possible changes in Serbia's government during this month. It seems, however, that the "initial enthusiasm" heard from party leaders to reduce the number of portfolios has waned. Govt. reshuffle that wouldn't bring changes "Other solutions" are now often being mentioned. Serbian President and ruling DS party leader Boris Tadic said "everything should be thought out well", and advised that a plan be made "to fulfill the remaining promises given to the citizens ahead of the (previous) elections". As things stand now, it seems no minister from the current government will be found to be redundant. At the end of last year, some politicians loudly announced a reshuffle, but this sentiment was growing more quite as time passed by, and now Tadic believes that there are much more important tasks facing Serbia than making changes in the prime minister's cabinet. PM Mirko Cvetkovic himself also addressed the issue by saying it would be "wrong" to ask whether his ministers had performed well. "This issue has been raised with the premise that the reshuffle comes as a consequence of poor performance. It's not what this is about, the question is whether a government with, say, 15 ministries would be more efficient than one with 27," said he. When the statements about possible changes in the government started reaching the media, the media responded by probing who was likely to lose their job, and did not leave Cvetkovic out of this speculation. However, he says that he is "not afraid" of such an outcome, primarily since he does not consider his current position to be "God given". Finance Minister Diana Dragutinovic commented on the issue to suggest that a smaller cabinet would not mean less state spending. "A new government is one thing, a reshuffled one another. A reshuffled government, I stand behind this, will not have new priorities. I think the fiscal policy would remain the same, and there can only be insight into the state expenses via the fiscal policy. A new government always has new priorities, so some new government could be thriftier, or more prone to spending," said she. In the meantime, Serbia finds itself having the largest cabinet in the region - which globally compares to governments of countries such as China and India. The Cvetkovic cabinet meets for a session (FoNet, file)

Govt. reshuffle that wouldn't bring changes

"Other solutions" are now often being mentioned.

Serbian President and ruling DS party leader Boris Tadić said "everything should be thought out well", and advised that a plan be made "to fulfill the remaining promises given to the citizens ahead of the (previous) elections".

As things stand now, it seems no minister from the current government will be found to be redundant.

At the end of last year, some politicians loudly announced a reshuffle, but this sentiment was growing more quite as time passed by, and now Tadić believes that there are much more important tasks facing Serbia than making changes in the prime minister's cabinet.

PM Mirko Cvetković himself also addressed the issue by saying it would be "wrong" to ask whether his ministers had performed well.

"This issue has been raised with the premise that the reshuffle comes as a consequence of poor performance. It's not what this is about, the question is whether a government with, say, 15 ministries would be more efficient than one with 27," said he.

When the statements about possible changes in the government started reaching the media, the media responded by probing who was likely to lose their job, and did not leave Cvetković out of this speculation.

However, he says that he is "not afraid" of such an outcome, primarily since he does not consider his current position to be "God given".

Finance Minister Diana Dragutinović commented on the issue to suggest that a smaller cabinet would not mean less state spending.

"A new government is one thing, a reshuffled one another. A reshuffled government, I stand behind this, will not have new priorities. I think the fiscal policy would remain the same, and there can only be insight into the state expenses via the fiscal policy. A new government always has new priorities, so some new government could be thriftier, or more prone to spending," said she.

In the meantime, Serbia finds itself having the largest cabinet in the region - which globally compares to governments of countries such as China and India.