SNS, SPS leaders against early parliamentary elections

SNS, SPS leaders against early parliamentary elections

"When you see someone is using only falsehoods and lies, then sometimes you cannot respond otherwise," Vucic told reporters, mentioning as an example "some individuals who call themselves opposition leaders, who are making up that I was in Dubai for New Year's."

"The truth is I had not crossed the border of Serbia and came to the government on January 1 before the others," Vucic said.

Speaking about the meeting, Vucic said parliamentary elections were one of the topics, adding that he would like to avoid early polls "by any means."

Vucic also said his Progressives (SNS) and the Socialists (SPS) led by Ivica Dacic will not form pre-election coalitions for the provincial ballots, "because it is not necessary for them to cross the threshold."

Vucic said that agreement was reached during the meeting that the parties were free to forge pre-election coalitions at the local level.

The SNS leader said the meeting did not discuss personal matters and likings but "plans and ideas for the future of Serbia, implementation of economic reforms, because after a year and a half of this government's work we believe that it is good to once again ensure political stability, at the party level."

"To continue with even greater force and energy the economic reforms, which means full stabilization of public finances, the reform of public enterprises, to complete the restructuring and the privatization, to solve problems in the public administration, as well as to speed up and achieve dynamic economic growth and work to strengthen the entrepreneurial spirit," Vucic said. The prime minister said that proof of the good results of his cabinet was the fact 2015 saw more than EUR 1.6 billion in direct foreign investments, adding that this year he "expects more."

Vucic repeated that he would like to avoid early elections, but added that this "does not depend on him but on the circumstances," and that he would "in a month, or two, three" talk with his coalition partners "and say what they think about it."

Vucic also spoke about the dismissal of the minister of defense to say that would be completed "in January, as announced," and added it was "possible there is a candidate (to replace the minister)."

SPS leader Ivica Dacic addressed reporters to say there had been "no problems in the cooperation of coalition partners, and no differences on essential issues."

The SPS leader and Serbia's foreign minister added he "has no intention of changing his coalition partners."

The meeting did not discuss disagreements and personal issues, Dacic said -while when it comes to the opposition and to some media, he described the assertion that the SPS was working against Vucic as "nonsense."

He recalled that the SPS decided that its municipal and city boards can discuss pre-election coalitions at the local level, but that this "does not mean that coalitions will be made, because authorities are formed in municipalities and cities based on a concept."

Dacic also said that he was against early parliamentary elections, adding that elections should not be "games that take place every year."