Daily: Constitution can be changed because of EU, Kosovo

BELGRADE Daily Vecernje novosti writes that the EU accession and a possible agreement on Kosovo could make room for a change of the Constitution. Prime Minister Ivica Dacic says that the Constitution can only be changed through a consensus and Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic points out that the changes can be made only after we have joined the EU. Daily: Constitution can be changed because of EU, Kosovo The daily writes that some parts of the Constitution will have to be harmonized with the EU’s legislation and that it will be agreed to incorporate the agreement with Pristina into the document. Despite the fact that support of at least two thirds of MPs is necessary in order to change the Constitution, key politicians believe it is possible. Dacic has not ruled out a possibility of changing the Constitution “if a mutual acceptable solution for Kosovo is found”. “Every initiative or a proposal needs to be a part of a serious political package and an extensive professional debate because the widest national consensus is necessary for this big step,” he told the daily. Selakovic also has not ruled out a possibility of the constitutional changes. “Once it joins the EU some day, Serbia will face the change of the Constitution because every state on the pathway has been through it,” he explained. His Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) filed a request for the change of the Constitution two years ago, requesting that the number of MPs be reduced from 250 to 125. United Regions of Serbia (URS) deputy leader Vladimir Ilic agrees that the changes to the Constitution are necessary. “We advocate the change of the Constitution because we believe that it is necessary to reduce the number of MPs, change the election system and increase the number of electoral units and allow a direct election of mayors. These are some of preconditions for the development of a concept of Serbia’s essential decentralization that we have advocated since the beginning. There is an obvious political will to change the Constitution since only the Democratic Party of Serbia is opposed to it,” he pointed out. Democratic Party (DS) Presidency member Borislav Stefanovic believes that the changes to the Constitution will open a series of questions. “Aside from the number of MPs, Vojvodina’s powers and minority rights will also be discussed,” he said. The League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina (LSV) and Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) also advocate the changes, demanding more powers and better status of Vojvodina. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) says it would insist on changes to regulations on Kosovo and those on human rights, decentralization and economic issues. The only parliamentary party that opposes that change of the constitution is the DSS. “The Constitution represents the last line of defense against destruction of Serbia and snatching of Kosovo and Metohija. This is why we are sure that it will not be changed,” DSS Spokesman Petar Petkovic told the daily. The Serbian Constitution Vecernje novosti

Daily: Constitution can be changed because of EU, Kosovo

The daily writes that some parts of the Constitution will have to be harmonized with the EU’s legislation and that it will be agreed to incorporate the agreement with Priština into the document.

Despite the fact that support of at least two thirds of MPs is necessary in order to change the Constitution, key politicians believe it is possible.

Dačić has not ruled out a possibility of changing the Constitution “if a mutual acceptable solution for Kosovo is found”.

“Every initiative or a proposal needs to be a part of a serious political package and an extensive professional debate because the widest national consensus is necessary for this big step,” he told the daily.

Selaković also has not ruled out a possibility of the constitutional changes.

“Once it joins the EU some day, Serbia will face the change of the Constitution because every state on the pathway has been through it,” he explained. His Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) filed a request for the change of the Constitution two years ago, requesting that the number of MPs be reduced from 250 to 125.

United Regions of Serbia (URS) deputy leader Vladimir Ilić agrees that the changes to the Constitution are necessary.

“We advocate the change of the Constitution because we believe that it is necessary to reduce the number of MPs, change the election system and increase the number of electoral units and allow a direct election of mayors. These are some of preconditions for the development of a concept of Serbia’s essential decentralization that we have advocated since the beginning. There is an obvious political will to change the Constitution since only the Democratic Party of Serbia is opposed to it,” he pointed out.

Democratic Party (DS) Presidency member Borislav Stefanović believes that the changes to the Constitution will open a series of questions.

“Aside from the number of MPs, Vojvodina’s powers and minority rights will also be discussed,” he said.

The League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina (LSV) and Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) also advocate the changes, demanding more powers and better status of Vojvodina.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) says it would insist on changes to regulations on Kosovo and those on human rights, decentralization and economic issues.

The only parliamentary party that opposes that change of the constitution is the DSS.

“The Constitution represents the last line of defense against destruction of Serbia and snatching of Kosovo and Metohija. This is why we are sure that it will not be changed,” DSS Spokesman Petar Petković told the daily.