"State will not stop because of early elections"

BELGRADE Nikola Selakovic says that the decision to go to early elections was "rational," and believes that "the process of preparing elections" will hold no surprises. The justice minister told B92 TV on Tuesday that by "rational," he meant the voting would bring savings - "because if we organize (local) elections for a million and a half inhabitants of Belgrade, then why not organize elections for the whole of Serbia." "State will not stop because of early elections" Selakovic says a government session will be held today to send a proposal to dissolve parliament to the president, and that he would then have until January 29 to call early parliamentary elections that would coincide with the local polls in the city of Belgrade, on March 16. This minister from the ranks of the ruling Progressives (SNS) believes that the planned deadlines will be respected, and that "no unexpected scenarios like, for example, the prime minister resigning," would take place to disturb the process. Speaking about the possibility of calling early provincial elections in Vojvodina, Selakovic said the SNS was in opposition in the province, and that the party has been demanding elections there "the whole time": "I believe that the provincial government has no legitimacy, and for that reason elections should also take place there." Asked whether the SNS can persuade Vojvodina Assembly President Istvan Pastor to schedule the polls, he said: "I think that Mr. Pastor is an experienced and dedicated politician that will appraise whether elections should take place." However, he added that the decision, when it comes to Vojvodina, does not depend on his party. Selakovic also said that at present there was "no reason to call a presidential election," and described Tomislav Nikolic's criticism of the state over the work of the police and his safety as "an appeal of the head of state that some of the problems that are alarming need to be urgently addressed." Selakovic, an SNS vice-president, said that the this party was "open to talks with all who share its vision of a modern and prosperous Serbia," emphasizing that even if they "miraculously won over 50 percent of the vote," the Progressives "could not and should not be in power alone." He did not specify which parties the SNS intended to negotiate with, but noted that "the talks opened the moment early elections were announced." "However, I can say that there have been no official discussions so far," he said. Selakovic also stressed that during the campaign and the "technical mandate" of the government, "the state must continue to function." Commenting on a letter sent by several MEPs demanding that a condition for Serbia's EU membership should be to solve the political background of the assassination of Zoran Djindjic, the minister of justice said it was very important to shed the light on the murder "because it was not an ordinary murder, but the murder of the first man, the prime minister," and that this would be "a big test of how serious the state is." (Beta, file) B92

"State will not stop because of early elections"

Selaković says a government session will be held today to send a proposal to dissolve parliament to the president, and that he would then have until January 29 to call early parliamentary elections that would coincide with the local polls in the city of Belgrade, on March 16.

This minister from the ranks of the ruling Progressives (SNS) believes that the planned deadlines will be respected, and that "no unexpected scenarios like, for example, the prime minister resigning," would take place to disturb the process.

Speaking about the possibility of calling early provincial elections in Vojvodina, Selaković said the SNS was in opposition in the province, and that the party has been demanding elections there "the whole time":

"I believe that the provincial government has no legitimacy, and for that reason elections should also take place there."

Asked whether the SNS can persuade Vojvodina Assembly President Istvan Pastor to schedule the polls, he said: "I think that Mr. Pastor is an experienced and dedicated politician that will appraise whether elections should take place." However, he added that the decision, when it comes to Vojvodina, does not depend on his party.

Selaković also said that at present there was "no reason to call a presidential election," and described Tomislav Nikolić's criticism of the state over the work of the police and his safety as "an appeal of the head of state that some of the problems that are alarming need to be urgently addressed."

Selaković, an SNS vice-president, said that the this party was "open to talks with all who share its vision of a modern and prosperous Serbia," emphasizing that even if they "miraculously won over 50 percent of the vote," the Progressives "could not and should not be in power alone."

He did not specify which parties the SNS intended to negotiate with, but noted that "the talks opened the moment early elections were announced."

"However, I can say that there have been no official discussions so far," he said.

Selaković also stressed that during the campaign and the "technical mandate" of the government, "the state must continue to function."

Commenting on a letter sent by several MEPs demanding that a condition for Serbia's EU membership should be to solve the political background of the assassination of Zoran Đinđić, the minister of justice said it was very important to shed the light on the murder "because it was not an ordinary murder, but the murder of the first man, the prime minister," and that this would be "a big test of how serious the state is."