Referendum and elections discussed

Referendum and elections discussed

At a party press conference, Janković said that the elections depend on the scheduling of dates, “if two-round elections are taken into consideration,” since December 24, December 31 and January 7 are all holidays.

“Elections will take place immediately after the constitution is adopted, as soon as the unavoidable procedure is gone through, which means as soon as the parliament confirms it and the constitutional law is passed, after which the constitution will take effect.” Janković said.

Janković, however, reminded that a two-thirds parliamentary majority is needed, adding that “this is why the DSS is not talking about pre-election bills and obligations in any way.”

Asked whether the new constitution will help in the discussions with the European Union and in completing obligations to the Hague Tribunal, Janković said that internal stability is what is most important.

Simultaneous elections

Serbia Transparency President Vladimir Goati said that both parliamentary and presidential elections need to be held simultaneously after the eventual passing of the Serbian constitutional proposal.

He did not give a precise date for the elections, however.

“After the constitutional referendum, it would be necessary to hold elections for all of the positions which have altered competencies as a result of the constitution, and it is logical to hold the presidential and parliamentary elections at the same time, because it would save time and money for the tax payers.” Goati told Beta.

He added that the time for holding new parliamentary elections has already passed its deadline because the Government lost its parliamentary majority last year, and that elections are needed especially now after October 1, when the G17 Plus ministers handed in their resignations.

Referendum and Kosovo, separate issues

Kosovo chief advisor Azem Vlasi said that the Kosovo institutions are not giving any importance to the Serbian constitutional referendum, and that its results will not have any effect on the final status of Kosovo.

“Also, Kosovo is a part of Serbia according to Milošević’s constitution as well. Therefore, all the talk of a new constitution represent a political game of the Serbian establishment, aimed at its internal needs exclusively.” Vlasi told Novi Sad daily Dnevnik.