DS unity tested with choice of premier?

The issue of portfolios in the new cabinet, including the top job of prime minister, seems to be causing deep rifts within the Democratic Party (DS). Almost all the Belgrade media are reporting today that this party's leader, Boris Tadic, now faces a concrete problem: who to give the mandate to form the next government, and what the consequences of that decision will be. DS unity tested with choice of premier? DS officials Bojan Pajtic, Vuk Jeremic and Mirko Cvetkovic are all mentioned as possible new premiers, but reports say that while Tadic favors Jeremic, the party presidency has taken a firm position backing Pajtic for the job. However, the DS main board earlier authorized Tadic to make the final decision on this himself. The Democrats lead a five-party pre-election coalition expected to form a parliamentary majority with the SPS-PUPS-JS grouping. In a government elected by this majority, the DS would have the post of premier and as many as 14 portfolios, sources have suggest. Meanwhile, party officials have today declined to officially comment these reports for the media, telling reporters only that "there are no problems inside the DS". Analysts, however, say that a clash is ongoing between Tadic's "court", i.e. those who are his closest associates in his office of the president of Serbia, and the party brass. Tadic succeeded slain party leader and Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic at the helm of the DS, and today one of Djindjic's closest associates, Zoran Zivkovic – himself briefly premier in the wake of the March 12, 2003 assassination – commented on the latest developments. Zivkovic, marginalized after Tadic took over the party in early 2004, told B92 that he believes that the fact the name of the future prime minister has not been announced several days before a cabinet is likely to be elected in parliament, is "not serious behavior". However, he would not comment on whether there is in fact a split within the party. "In these odd coalitions that are being forged, it is hard to find someone who would be able to represent the essence of such coalitions, and to still maintain credibility in the eyes of the public. If there were good practices in the DS, then there would be some body, for instance a political council, to offer opinion on this," he said. NIN weekly and Enter TV journalist Dragan Bujosevic, considered to be well-acquainted with the inside workings of the DS, says the conflict playing out is that between "the court" in Tadic's presidential office, and the top party officials. "I think Tadic will choose someone whom he believes will be able to in fact do this job," he said of the premier enigma. "I think what he finds to be the most important is that the future prime minister is a person capable of harmonizing all these different parties in this government, all the different appetites from ministers from both sides, wishing to be big bosses in their own sectors," Bujosevic said. According to this journalist, "Tadic is ready to make a decision contrary to the will of his party colleagues". One of the senior DS officials named in today's press as having voiced his dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in no uncertain terms – outgoing Justice Minister Dragan Petrovic – today confirmed that he will not hold a portfolio in the next cabinet, and will instead "occupy himself exclusively with party work". But he at the same time denied the media reports, accusing journalists of "using lies to boost circulation". According to Petrovic, the top of the party has a united position "on all important issues". Boris Tadic, Bojan Pajtic (FoNet)

DS unity tested with choice of premier?

DS officials Bojan Pajtić, Vuk Jeremić and Mirko Cvetković are all mentioned as possible new premiers, but reports say that while Tadić favors Jeremić, the party presidency has taken a firm position backing Pajtić for the job.

However, the DS main board earlier authorized Tadić to make the final decision on this himself.

The Democrats lead a five-party pre-election coalition expected to form a parliamentary majority with the SPS-PUPS-JS grouping. In a government elected by this majority, the DS would have the post of premier and as many as 14 portfolios, sources have suggest.

Meanwhile, party officials have today declined to officially comment these reports for the media, telling reporters only that "there are no problems inside the DS".

Analysts, however, say that a clash is ongoing between Tadić's "court", i.e. those who are his closest associates in his office of the president of Serbia, and the party brass.

Tadić succeeded slain party leader and Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić at the helm of the DS, and today one of Đinđić's closest associates, Zoran Živković – himself briefly premier in the wake of the March 12, 2003 assassination – commented on the latest developments.

Živković, marginalized after Tadić took over the party in early 2004, told B92 that he believes that the fact the name of the future prime minister has not been announced several days before a cabinet is likely to be elected in parliament, is "not serious behavior".

However, he would not comment on whether there is in fact a split within the party.

"In these odd coalitions that are being forged, it is hard to find someone who would be able to represent the essence of such coalitions, and to still maintain credibility in the eyes of the public. If there were good practices in the DS, then there would be some body, for instance a political council, to offer opinion on this," he said.

NIN weekly and Enter TV journalist Dragan Bujošević, considered to be well-acquainted with the inside workings of the DS, says the conflict playing out is that between "the court" in Tadić's presidential office, and the top party officials.

"I think Tadić will choose someone whom he believes will be able to in fact do this job," he said of the premier enigma.

"I think what he finds to be the most important is that the future prime minister is a person capable of harmonizing all these different parties in this government, all the different appetites from ministers from both sides, wishing to be big bosses in their own sectors," Bujošević said.

According to this journalist, "Tadić is ready to make a decision contrary to the will of his party colleagues".

One of the senior DS officials named in today's press as having voiced his dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in no uncertain terms – outgoing Justice Minister Dragan Petrović – today confirmed that he will not hold a portfolio in the next cabinet, and will instead "occupy himself exclusively with party work".

But he at the same time denied the media reports, accusing journalists of "using lies to boost circulation".

According to Petrović, the top of the party has a united position "on all important issues".