Official: Socialists do not want early elections

BELGRADE Socialist Party (SPS) Executive Board President and MP Branko Ruzic says that his party does not wish to see early elections in Serbia. However, they are also "ready to take part", according to him. Official: Socialists do not want early elections "Only an irresponsible politician would insist on elections that could only be useful for somebody's narrow, partisan interests. There's no need for elections and they are not what the SPS wishes, but we are, as ever, ready," Ruzic told the Belgrade-based Blic newspaper in an interview. According to this SPS official, it would be "irresponsible" to call early elections "when the economy is fragile, when the prime minister along with the president has taken responsibility for the negotiations on Kosovo and Metohija, and when European integrations process is being intensified". Asked "whether he minded that (Aleksandar) Vucic was constantly threatening with elections", Ruzic responded by saying that he was unaware that the SNS leader and first deputy PM was issuing such threats: "I am certain that Vucic took on great responsibility precisely so that some things could be completed, and I'm not sure that elections would accelerate the realization of what he took responsibility for in the government. Of course, each party has a legitimate right to appraise its priorities, and the citizens, in the end, to pass their judgment." Asked whether there were "differences in the ruling coalition" regarding the suspected drug lord and fugitive Darko Saric, Ruzic said that "such a process must be done in silence, rather than through bombastic media announcements": "The prime minister has asked that the public be told the name of a member of his cabinet who allegedly cooperated with the Saric clan, if such a person existed. So far, we have not heard that name." Ruzic also revealed that there were "no official demands" for the local authorities in Belgrade, where the Democrats (DS) are in power in coalition with the SPS, to be changed. "The SPS personnel are working in a responsible manner, in the interest of Belgraders, and that is what matters the most to us." This SPS official noted that he "heard it during previous months" that the Belgrade issue was "an ethical one" for the SNS, and added that his party "understood that position". Branko Ruzic (L) (Tanjug, file) Beta Blic

Official: Socialists do not want early elections

"Only an irresponsible politician would insist on elections that could only be useful for somebody's narrow, partisan interests. There's no need for elections and they are not what the SPS wishes, but we are, as ever, ready," Ružić told the Belgrade-based Blic newspaper in an interview.

According to this SPS official, it would be "irresponsible" to call early elections "when the economy is fragile, when the prime minister along with the president has taken responsibility for the negotiations on Kosovo and Metohija, and when European integrations process is being intensified".

Asked "whether he minded that (Aleksandar) Vučić was constantly threatening with elections", Ružić responded by saying that he was unaware that the SNS leader and first deputy PM was issuing such threats:

"I am certain that Vučić took on great responsibility precisely so that some things could be completed, and I'm not sure that elections would accelerate the realization of what he took responsibility for in the government. Of course, each party has a legitimate right to appraise its priorities, and the citizens, in the end, to pass their judgment."

Asked whether there were "differences in the ruling coalition" regarding the suspected drug lord and fugitive Darko Šarić, Ružić said that "such a process must be done in silence, rather than through bombastic media announcements":

"The prime minister has asked that the public be told the name of a member of his cabinet who allegedly cooperated with the Šarić clan, if such a person existed. So far, we have not heard that name."

Ružić also revealed that there were "no official demands" for the local authorities in Belgrade, where the Democrats (DS) are in power in coalition with the SPS, to be changed.

"The SPS personnel are working in a responsible manner, in the interest of Belgraders, and that is what matters the most to us."

This SPS official noted that he "heard it during previous months" that the Belgrade issue was "an ethical one" for the SNS, and added that his party "understood that position".