Ruling coalition "uncertain of majority" in parliament

The first working day of the Serbian parliament in 2012 was marked with the uncertainty whether MPs would be able to form a majority. They were to vote on personnel decisions related to the field of judiciary. Ruling coalition "uncertain of majority" in parliament The set of decisions was debated in parliament on Wednesday but could not be voted on as the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO), which is part of the ruling coalition, decided not to participate in the work of the parliament until their demands were met. The first extraordinary session began normally despite the fact that SPO MPs were absent, as a total of 103 MPs were there, which was enough for parliamentary work and debate. MPs considered both points from the agenda - the Proposal of the Decision on the Election of a High Judicial Council member from the ranks of appellate court judges, submitted by the High Judicial Council and the Proposal of the Decision on the Election of Deputy Public Prosecutors, submitted by the State Prosecution Council, according to a Serbian parliament release. The voting day will be scheduled later, said Serbian parliament Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic. The ruling coalition believe that a parliamentary majority to vote on a High Judicial Council member and deputy public prosecutors would be secured, even though it is still unknown where the necessary votes to replace the votes of the four SPO MPs would come from. For a European Serbia whip Nada Koludzija said that the importance of the issue called for the presence of a total 126 parliamentarians, the number needed to form a majority. The SPO remained firm in their decision not to take part in the parliament's work until Minister for Religion and Diaspora Srdjan Sreckovic and State Secretary at the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, State Administration and Local Self-Government Sanja Cekovic were dismissed from their respective functions. SPO member Aleksandar Jugovic told reporters the SPO was committed to finding a compromise that would have them back in the parliament. It would consist in the SPO having the right to replace ministers from their ranks just like other parties can, he added. (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Ruling coalition "uncertain of majority" in parliament

The set of decisions was debated in parliament on Wednesday but could not be voted on as the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO), which is part of the ruling coalition, decided not to participate in the work of the parliament until their demands were met.

The first extraordinary session began normally despite the fact that SPO MPs were absent, as a total of 103 MPs were there, which was enough for parliamentary work and debate.

MPs considered both points from the agenda - the Proposal of the Decision on the Election of a High Judicial Council member from the ranks of appellate court judges, submitted by the High Judicial Council and the Proposal of the Decision on the Election of Deputy Public Prosecutors, submitted by the State Prosecution Council, according to a Serbian parliament release.

The voting day will be scheduled later, said Serbian parliament Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović.

The ruling coalition believe that a parliamentary majority to vote on a High Judicial Council member and deputy public prosecutors would be secured, even though it is still unknown where the necessary votes to replace the votes of the four SPO MPs would come from.

For a European Serbia whip Nada Koludžija said that the importance of the issue called for the presence of a total 126 parliamentarians, the number needed to form a majority.

The SPO remained firm in their decision not to take part in the parliament's work until Minister for Religion and Diaspora Srđan Srećković and State Secretary at the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, State Administration and Local Self-Government Sanja Čeković were dismissed from their respective functions.

SPO member Aleksandar Jugović told reporters the SPO was committed to finding a compromise that would have them back in the parliament. It would consist in the SPO having the right to replace ministers from their ranks just like other parties can, he added.