SNS offers SVM to enter new government

SNS offers SVM to enter new government

“We have not discussed the issue of majority in the Vojvodina Assembly. The greatest burden of the provincial government is the issue of legitimacy,” Vučić told reporters after the meeting with SVM leader Istvan Pastor.

Both Vučić and Pastor said that they have not discussed the change of Vojvodina's provincial government.

Asked whether the SNS will make the same offer to the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and the New Democratic Party (NDS), Vučić said that the SNS Presidency made a unanimous decision to offer the SVM to join the government, while there were different opinions about whether the new government should include the NDS and the coalition led by the SPS.

“Only in terms of the SVM, there were no different opinions,” Vučić said.

Vučić said that he and SPS leader Ivica Dačić are scheduled to confer on Tuesday, adding that he does not know whether Dacic will appear with officials of the Party of United Pensioners of Serbia (PUPS) and the United Serbia (JS).

Asked about his expectations of Tuesday's talks, Vučić said that he cannot say anything for the time being, adding that he will present the SNS program, while Dačić is expected to voice his stance.

Vučić said that he cannot form the government with anyone who would ask for an increase of salaries in the public sector at a situation like this.

If they do not agree to strengthen the country's economy and ask for an increase of salaries in the public sector and pensions, I will say that I cannot take part in that, Vučić said.

“If they say that we will act responsibly and take difficult steps, we will negotiate in a different manner,” Vučić said.

The SNS leader said that he will have a telephone conversation with the NDS on Monday, and meet with the party officials in the forthcoming days.

Vučić said that he also has meetings with nonpartisan parties and foreign friends, stressing that the SNS does not have to have the majority of ministers in the government, which will comprise 19 members at the most and be the smallest in Serbia's modern political history.

As for the Belgrade City Assembly, Vučić said that this issue will be discussed by the party bodies, adding that it will be formed in due time.

Pastor told reporters that the party will remain determined to have state secretaries, while Vučić said that the SNS has nothing against the SVM having ministers in the future government.

The meeting was held at the SNS head office in Belgrade, and the SVM delegation headed by leader Istvan Pastor also comprised Balint Pastor and Laslo Varga.

Beside Vučić, the SNS was represented at the meeting by the party's vice-presidents Nebojša Stefanović and Goran Knežević and officials Jadranka Joksimović and Maja Gojković.