SNS presidency against elections - "for now"

BELGRADE The presidency of the ruling SNS party held a meeting on Monday to consider the situation in the cabinet, and the possibility of calling early elections. After the session that lasted an hour, SNS leader and First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vucic told reporters that the party's high ratings would not prompt it to force early elections "for now". SNS presidency against elections - "for now" According to Vucic, the SNS values the interests of the citizens more than a chance to capitalize on its current rating. He also stated that the state organs would solve all crime and corruption cases "in line with the law", and that nobody would enjoy protection in this - "regardless of their name and office". Vucic added that this was related to the 24 controversial privatizations, the Saric case, Galenik, and RVB. He explained that the party would continue "to work in the government for as long as that benefits the citizens", and that "once this is not the case the presidency and the main board of the SNS would meet". According to the SNS leader, elections will take place in Serbia "when most citizens wish to have a different government". Speaking about the meetings between PM Ivica Dacic and a Saric gang member, Vucic said that former head of the National Council for Security and now a vice president of the opposition DS party Miki Rakic and former President Boris Tadic "did not commit a crime, but the question remains about what they knew when they decided to form the (previous) government with Dacic". As for the SNS, Vucic continued, "the party knew nothing about that". However, he did not wish to say whether he himself would have formed a government with Dacic "had he known". A B92 reporter asked Vucic to "comment clearly" on whether the government was stable, to which he failed to give a precise answer, saying that "work will continue on the goals - and if it succeeds, it will succeed". "Which," he noted, "is not always a given." According to Vucic, neither a reshuffle of the government nor the issue of the city authorities in Belgrade have been discussed. Speaking about the controversy related to his meetings with a Saric gang member, Ivica Dacic over the weekend asserted that he was unaware of the man's association with the crime clan when the meetings took place, and said the "smear campaign" against him was not organized by the SNS. Belgrade-based daily Danas is reporting that it learned unofficially that "some SNS officials expected Dacic to resign during his news conference on Saturday", when the prime minister and the SPS leader admitted to meeting with a member of the Saric crime clan. Last week, the government led by Dacic did not meet, although a session had been planned. According to the media in Belgrade the reason was a lack of agreements on the election of MUP's new police director. The cabinet is expected to meet in Belgrade on Monday afternoon. Opposition DS and LDP parties have in the meantime called for early elections to be held, but other members of the ruling coalition do not share the same stance, saying that "the country does not need elections at this point". Aleksandar Vucic (Tanjug) B92 Beta Tanjug

SNS presidency against elections - "for now"

According to Vučić, the SNS values the interests of the citizens more than a chance to capitalize on its current rating.

He also stated that the state organs would solve all crime and corruption cases "in line with the law", and that nobody would enjoy protection in this - "regardless of their name and office".

Vučić added that this was related to the 24 controversial privatizations, the Šarić case, Galenik, and RVB.

He explained that the party would continue "to work in the government for as long as that benefits the citizens", and that "once this is not the case the presidency and the main board of the SNS would meet".

According to the SNS leader, elections will take place in Serbia "when most citizens wish to have a different government".

Speaking about the meetings between PM Ivica Dačić and a Šarić gang member, Vučić said that former head of the National Council for Security and now a vice president of the opposition DS party Miki Rakić and former President Boris Tadić "did not commit a crime, but the question remains about what they knew when they decided to form the (previous) government with Dačić".

As for the SNS, Vučić continued, "the party knew nothing about that". However, he did not wish to say whether he himself would have formed a government with Dačić "had he known".

A B92 reporter asked Vučić to "comment clearly" on whether the government was stable, to which he failed to give a precise answer, saying that "work will continue on the goals - and if it succeeds, it will succeed".

"Which," he noted, "is not always a given."

According to Vučić, neither a reshuffle of the government nor the issue of the city authorities in Belgrade have been discussed.

Speaking about the controversy related to his meetings with a Šarić gang member, Ivica Dačić over the weekend asserted that he was unaware of the man's association with the crime clan when the meetings took place, and said the "smear campaign" against him was not organized by the SNS.

Belgrade-based daily Danas is reporting that it learned unofficially that "some SNS officials expected Dačić to resign during his news conference on Saturday", when the prime minister and the SPS leader admitted to meeting with a member of the Šarić crime clan.

Last week, the government led by Dačić did not meet, although a session had been planned. According to the media in Belgrade the reason was a lack of agreements on the election of MUP's new police director.

The cabinet is expected to meet in Belgrade on Monday afternoon.

Opposition DS and LDP parties have in the meantime called for early elections to be held, but other members of the ruling coalition do not share the same stance, saying that "the country does not need elections at this point".