"SNS should now take responsibility for Belgrade"

BELGRADE Former president of the Belgrade City Assembly Aleksandar Antic (SPS) says the Progressives (SNS) "should take over the responsibility of governing Belgrade." "Everything should be done for Belgrade to function normally after the removal of Mayor Dragan Djilas," he told the daily Danas, adding that the SPS would talk to the SNS on future steps towards taking over the city administration. "SNS should now take responsibility for Belgrade" Djilas was voted out of office earlier this week. The initiative to remove Djilas was filed by the SNS and the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS). The Belgrade government is comprised the Democratic Party, ran by Djilas, and the coalition between the SPS, the United Pensioners of Serbia and United Serbia. Djilas lost the confidence vote because the coalition centred around the SPS did not support him and sided with the SNS, who are their coalition partners in the national government. When asked if the SPS would put forth a mayor candidate, Antic replied that it was yet to be discussed, but that he believed the SNS should assume leadership in Belgrade. Commenting on the SNS proposal to form a provisional council and appoint an acting mayor until the next election, he stated that he agreed with all the steps that would ensure the city's normal functioning. Antic's fellow high ranking SPS official Branko Ruzic addressed the same subject on Thursday to say that it was "still too early" to talk about his party's candidate for mayor. "The principle that the SNS wants to apply - to practically define in advance that elections will be held, is their legitimate right. Of course, this still needs to be talked about bearing in mind that we practically without elections led to the reconstructions of (local) governments in many municipalities and cities," he told RTS. The Belgrade City Assembly (Tanjug) Danas RTS Tanjug

"SNS should now take responsibility for Belgrade"

Đilas was voted out of office earlier this week.

The initiative to remove Đilas was filed by the SNS and the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS).

The Belgrade government is comprised the Democratic Party, ran by Đilas, and the coalition between the SPS, the United Pensioners of Serbia and United Serbia.

Đilas lost the confidence vote because the coalition centred around the SPS did not support him and sided with the SNS, who are their coalition partners in the national government.

When asked if the SPS would put forth a mayor candidate, Antić replied that it was yet to be discussed, but that he believed the SNS should assume leadership in Belgrade.

Commenting on the SNS proposal to form a provisional council and appoint an acting mayor until the next election, he stated that he agreed with all the steps that would ensure the city's normal functioning.

Antić's fellow high ranking SPS official Branko Ružić addressed the same subject on Thursday to say that it was "still too early" to talk about his party's candidate for mayor.

"The principle that the SNS wants to apply - to practically define in advance that elections will be held, is their legitimate right. Of course, this still needs to be talked about bearing in mind that we practically without elections led to the reconstructions of (local) governments in many municipalities and cities," he told RTS.