Leaders of Progressives and Socialists meet

Leaders of Progressives and Socialists meet

Dačić, Serbia's outgoing prime minister and leader of the Socialists (SPS) arrived at the SNS headquarters on Tuesday for talks about a new government, which he said focused mostly on the economy. Ministerial positions have not been discussed, he said.

"We are ready to take on our part of the job - that Serbia does not miss an opportunity, but to step on in a bigger stride," Dačić was quoted as saying. He then added that "not a single mistake was made during the current cooperation in the government when it comes to the road along which the country is headed," but that now there was an opportunity to "go into the economy."

Pointing out that the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition "positively assessed" its cooperation so far with Vučić and the SNS, Dačić stated that his cabinet's results were "good" - and would be "evaluated as significant also in the decades to come."

"Serbia has changed its image and today the worst talk about Serbia is taking place precisely in Serbia. Now it's time for Serbia to end the tradition of missed opportunities," the outgoing prime minister was quoted as saying, and adding: "We reiterate our desire and express our political will that Serbia does not miss the opportunity and that it develops."

The purpose of today's meeting, said Dačić, was for Vučić to propose a plan, while it did not concern "past times, but the future."

Speaking after the meeting, Vučić also said that it was for the most part dedicated to the economy. He reiterated that "there would be no increase in the public debt," but said that Serbia would "get significant and major infrastructure projects, and that in ten or so days concession contracts will be signed for big jobs in that area."

Dačić was accompanied by deputy leader of the Party of United Pensioners of Serbia (PUPS), Milan Krkobabić, President of United Serbia (JS) Dragan Marković Palma, and SPS officials Žarko Obradović and Dijana Vukomanović.

They were welcomed by Vučić, SNS Vice-President Zorana Mihajlović, while party officials Nikola Selaković and Bratislav Gašić attended the meeting.

The Progressives launched government consultations on Monday with a meeting with representatives of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians, whom they invited to participate in Serbia's next cabinet.