PM denies rumors his cabinet might collapse

BELGRADE PM Ivica Dacic on Monday assured that his cabinet would survive despite disagreements between his Socialists and the Progressives over a local coalition. "It can't be that you think the government will fall because of local authorities?," Dacic asked reporters, and stated that while "problems do exist, they are not of the sort that would bring down the government". He qualified the rumors as "frivolous". PM denies rumors his cabinet might collapse The Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and the United Regions of Serbia recently decided leave a coalition with the Serb Progressives (SNS) in the town of Smederevska Palanka, and leave them out of a new majority created in the local assembly. The three parties are in coalition on the state level. Some media reported that SNS leader Aleksandar Vucic was "even ready to bring down the government" as a consequence. Dacic stated today in Belgrade on the sidelines of the Serbia Economic Summit that "wherever possible", local coalitions should reflect the state-level alliance, and noted: "I am overjoyed if the reason for the government to fall would be local authorities, because that means we have no other, more serious problems." Asked whether Zajecar would go the way of Smederevska Palanka, he responded: "What - did we put together this government because of Zajecar, Smederevska Palanka, or for the sake of Serbia? We have no problems, what sort of problem could there be on the local level that could bring down the government? Do you think I'm crazy to be meeting with (Hashim) Thaci under the circumstances where the government would fall because of Zajecar or Smederevska Palanka? Don't be ridiculous." Finance and Economy Minister and URS party leader Mladjan Dinkic also reacted on Monday to say that "no local-level misunderstanding can jeopardize the government", and that such problems should be addressed where they originate - on the local level. "The parties of the ruling coalition have absolutely good cooperation and we held a session of the government (on Monday). The opposition will have to wait a while before they can put together their cabinet," noted Dinkic. (Tanjug) Beta Tanjug

PM denies rumors his cabinet might collapse

The Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and the United Regions of Serbia recently decided leave a coalition with the Serb Progressives (SNS) in the town of Smederevska Palanka, and leave them out of a new majority created in the local assembly. The three parties are in coalition on the state level.

Some media reported that SNS leader Aleksandar Vučić was "even ready to bring down the government" as a consequence.

Dačić stated today in Belgrade on the sidelines of the Serbia Economic Summit that "wherever possible", local coalitions should reflect the state-level alliance, and noted:

"I am overjoyed if the reason for the government to fall would be local authorities, because that means we have no other, more serious problems."

Asked whether Zaječar would go the way of Smederevska Palanka, he responded:

"What - did we put together this government because of Zaječar, Smederevska Palanka, or for the sake of Serbia? We have no problems, what sort of problem could there be on the local level that could bring down the government? Do you think I'm crazy to be meeting with (Hashim) Thaci under the circumstances where the government would fall because of Zaječar or Smederevska Palanka? Don't be ridiculous."

Finance and Economy Minister and URS party leader Mlađan Dinkić also reacted on Monday to say that "no local-level misunderstanding can jeopardize the government", and that such problems should be addressed where they originate - on the local level.

"The parties of the ruling coalition have absolutely good cooperation and we held a session of the government (on Monday). The opposition will have to wait a while before they can put together their cabinet," noted Dinkić.