Vučić reelected as leader of Progressives

BELGRADE The electoral assembly of the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) reappointed incumbent Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic as the party leader on Saturday. At the assembly, Vucic stated that he would propose at the SNS Presidency session on Sunday for the will of the people to be elicited in early parliamentary elections. Vucic reelected as leader of Progressives He explained that the decision was adopted because the climate in the society is such that faster and more efficient social changes and economic reforms are impossible. The announcement of early parliamentary elections was met with approval among both opposition parties and members of the ruling coalition headed by SNS. Serbian Parliament Speaker and SNS Vice President Nebojsa Stefanovic said that early elections should be staged on March 16, simultaneously with the elections in Belgrade, in which case they should be called by January 29 at the latest. The decision to call early elections will be adopted by the president and the period from that moment until the elections can range from 45 to 60 days at the most. (Beta, file) Presidency backs decision The Presidency of the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) as the central party in the ruling coalition has backed the proposal voiced by the party leader Aleksandar Vucic on Sunday to call early parliamentary elections in Serbia. At the electoral assembly, Vucic stated that he decided to call for early parliamentary elections "so as to elicit the will of the people and citizens' support," Tanjug reported. He explained that the decision was adopted because the climate in the society is such that faster and more efficient social changes and economic reforms are impossible. “Serbia can make faster, better and greater progress; changes cannot wait, the life of citizens in Serbia is hard and a large number of young people are still jobless,” Vucic said on Sunday presenting his decision at the session of the SNS Presidency on Sunday. He underscored that early elections are necessary so that Serbia may get a new government which would, with the widest possible consensus, intensify social and economic reforms, and noted that the parliamentary elections should be staged on March 16, simultaneously with the elections in Belgrade and three more municipalities. After the session of the SNS Presidency, Vucic told the news conference that he did not want to accept the offer made by leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) Ivica Dacic to take over the position of the prime minister without the elections. He noted that people should decide on the best party vision and program in the early elections. Vucic expressed the belief that early elections will not slow down the necessary reforms and would instead accelerate them, and underscored that the fight against crime and corruption in the country will not be interrupted during the electoral campaign. Vucic announced that the mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would be staying in Serbia during the electoral campaign from February 23 to March 13. Noting that this will be the first time in the IMF history for its representatives to visit a country at a time of electoral campaign, Vucic expressed the expectation that Serbia and IMF would on this occasion sign a precautionary arrangement. He said that he expects the World Bank to deliver the loan to Serbia as budget support in late April. Commenting on the resignation by economy minister Sasa Radulovic, the SNS leader said that "the entire government has certainly resigned now." Radulovic resigned on Saturday as he previously announced that he would make such a move in case of early elections because it would mean there is no political will for the adoption of key reform laws. Vucic explained that draft laws on bankruptcy and privatization are currently in the parliamentary procedure and that additional consultations are being conducted thereon, adding that a special team would work on the amendments to the Labor Law because an agreement has to be reached with trade unions. "Too early" The SNS wants to get a clear mandate from the citizens in the early parliamentary elections on March 16, SNS leader Aleksandar Vucic stated on Sunday. Addressing the news conference after the SNS Main Board session, Vucic said that SNS will accept the will of the people even if citizens decide otherwise. “The risk we have taken on shows that the most important matter for SNS is its responsibility and better life for citizens,” he said. Vucic stated that it is still too early to discuss potential partners with which SNS may set up the new government but he underscored that in case the party gets a clear mandate by the will of the people, it intends to unite all those who know how to solve problems so that Serbia could develop and progress faster. He announced that he will discuss the potential electoral campaign with leader of the Social Democratic Party of Serbia Rasim Ljajic with whom he maintained good cooperation to date. Vucic expressed the expectation that the early parliamentary elections would be held in the entire territory of the country, including the southern province of Kosovo and Metohija, as was the case in the past. “I cannot say what may happen, but this is our intention,” he noted. When asked if the elections and the campaign would slow down the talks with the EU and the dialogue with Pristina, Vucic replied that he will travel to Brussels with Prime Minister Ivica Dacic on Monday where the dialogue with Pristina will continue. Tanjug

Vučić reelected as leader of Progressives

He explained that the decision was adopted because the climate in the society is such that faster and more efficient social changes and economic reforms are impossible.

The announcement of early parliamentary elections was met with approval among both opposition parties and members of the ruling coalition headed by SNS.

Serbian Parliament Speaker and SNS Vice President Nebojša Stefanović said that early elections should be staged on March 16, simultaneously with the elections in Belgrade, in which case they should be called by January 29 at the latest.

The decision to call early elections will be adopted by the president and the period from that moment until the elections can range from 45 to 60 days at the most.

Presidency backs decision

The Presidency of the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) as the central party in the ruling coalition has backed the proposal voiced by the party leader Aleksandar Vučić on Sunday to call early parliamentary elections in Serbia.

At the electoral assembly, Vučić stated that he decided to call for early parliamentary elections "so as to elicit the will of the people and citizens' support," Tanjug reported.

He explained that the decision was adopted because the climate in the society is such that faster and more efficient social changes and economic reforms are impossible.

“Serbia can make faster, better and greater progress; changes cannot wait, the life of citizens in Serbia is hard and a large number of young people are still jobless,” Vučić said on Sunday presenting his decision at the session of the SNS Presidency on Sunday.

He underscored that early elections are necessary so that Serbia may get a new government which would, with the widest possible consensus, intensify social and economic reforms, and noted that the parliamentary elections should be staged on March 16, simultaneously with the elections in Belgrade and three more municipalities.

After the session of the SNS Presidency, Vučić told the news conference that he did not want to accept the offer made by leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) Ivica Dacic to take over the position of the prime minister without the elections.

He noted that people should decide on the best party vision and program in the early elections.

Vučić expressed the belief that early elections will not slow down the necessary reforms and would instead accelerate them, and underscored that the fight against crime and corruption in the country will not be interrupted during the electoral campaign.

Vučić announced that the mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would be staying in Serbia during the electoral campaign from February 23 to March 13.

Noting that this will be the first time in the IMF history for its representatives to visit a country at a time of electoral campaign, Vučić expressed the expectation that Serbia and IMF would on this occasion sign a precautionary arrangement.

He said that he expects the World Bank to deliver the loan to Serbia as budget support in late April.

Commenting on the resignation by economy minister Saša Radulović, the SNS leader said that "the entire government has certainly resigned now."

Radulović resigned on Saturday as he previously announced that he would make such a move in case of early elections because it would mean there is no political will for the adoption of key reform laws.

Vučić explained that draft laws on bankruptcy and privatization are currently in the parliamentary procedure and that additional consultations are being conducted thereon, adding that a special team would work on the amendments to the Labor Law because an agreement has to be reached with trade unions.

"Too early"

The SNS wants to get a clear mandate from the citizens in the early parliamentary elections on March 16, SNS leader Aleksandar Vučić stated on Sunday.

Addressing the news conference after the SNS Main Board session, Vučić said that SNS will accept the will of the people even if citizens decide otherwise.

“The risk we have taken on shows that the most important matter for SNS is its responsibility and better life for citizens,” he said.

Vučić stated that it is still too early to discuss potential partners with which SNS may set up the new government but he underscored that in case the party gets a clear mandate by the will of the people, it intends to unite all those who know how to solve problems so that Serbia could develop and progress faster.

He announced that he will discuss the potential electoral campaign with leader of the Social Democratic Party of Serbia Rasim Ljajić with whom he maintained good cooperation to date.

Vučić expressed the expectation that the early parliamentary elections would be held in the entire territory of the country, including the southern province of Kosovo and Metohija, as was the case in the past. “I cannot say what may happen, but this is our intention,” he noted.

When asked if the elections and the campaign would slow down the talks with the EU and the dialogue with Priština, Vučić replied that he will travel to Brussels with Prime Minister Ivica Dačić on Monday where the dialogue with Priština will continue.