Economy and finance ministries to merge again - daily

Economy and finance ministries to merge again - daily

"Chances are that (Finance Minister) Dusan Vujovic will return to the World Bank, while further engagement of the current economy minister, Zeljko Sertic, is not known, since the position he came from - the post of president of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce - was filled two days ago," the article said.

The daily observed that "current Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has had no luck with the selection of people for this department that is the most important and has so far proved to be the most turbulent."

The finance and economy portfolios were first combined in mid-2012 and entrusted to Mladjan Dinkic, "and although Ivica Dacic served as premier at the time, Vucic undoubtedly had a role in the personnel solutions."

Dinkic left the position during the first reshuffle of that cabinet "due to his clash with Dacic," and after that, the ministry was divided in two - Lazar Krstic was made finance minister, while Sasa Radulovic was given the economy portfolio. However, the latter "quickly resigned," while "Progressive (party official) Igor Mirovic coordinated the ministry until the early elections."

The new government headed by Vucic included in its ranks Dusan Vujovic as the economy minister, who was given the finance portfolio after Krstic resigned. Vujovic's job, meanwhile, was given to Sertic.

According to some sources quoted by the daily, "Vucic is not pleased with any of them and is very much looking for their replacements."

Тhe most likely solution, it is speculated, is the appointment of Mijailovic - "considered in professional circles to be well-versed in financial issues, but virtually unknown to the general public."

He arrived to the government as "Dinkinc`s man" as an assistant, "and survived in the Ministry of Finance after the departure of his first boss."

He is now in charge of the coordination of the sector for macroeconomic and fiscal analysis and projections, budget, fiscal system, financial system, and property and legal affairs.

Mijailovic was involved in all major transactions concluded with foreign partners, especially when it comes to arrangements with Arabs, said the Danas daily.

According to the Anti-Corruption Agency, since 2009 he held various positions, including at the helm of a sector in the Agency for Insurance and Financing of Exports, and as chairman of the Board of the Privatization Agency.

According to the article, his "most profitable task" was to serve on boards of the Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIS), where he at one point, in addition to the salary he received from the ministry, he earned over RSD 943,000 (some EUR 7,700) every month.

Since July this year, however, this income was reduced to RSD 380,000, as well as his salary in the ministry - from 120,000 to 89,000. Mijailovic graduated from the Faculty of Economics in Belgrade in 2003 as a 23-year-old, and earned his master's degree in Lausanne, Switzerland. Heis enrolled as a doctoral student at the University of Belgrade.