Radicals announce protests in Belgrade

The Radicals (SRS) Secretary General Aleksandar Vucic has announced protests in Belgrade over the date set for the first sitting of the new city assembly. Vucic, seen as the likely new mayor after a coalition deal for the capital stuck by the SRS, the DSS and the Socialists (SPS) earlier this week, said his party's new partners will also take part. Radicals announce protests in Belgrade The coalition is unhappy with acting Mayor Zoran Alimpic's decision to schedule the assembly session for July 14. Vucic told journalists in a news conference in Belgrade today that the protests will be held "starting Wednesday". He added the Radicals' coalition partners were close to agreement on how to proceed with the demonstrations, as well as about "the way in which we will implement these democratic changes that the Belgraders wish to see implemented". The coalition will, according to the SRS official, take all legal measures to make sure the will of the voters is respected. Vucic also said the explanation head for the July 14 date was "immoral and incredible", since Alimpic said he was not convinced that the SRS-DSS-SPS coalition does have a majority in the city assembly. The SRS secretary general said this delay would "cost Belgrade dearly". As for the speculation that the coalition in the capital might fall apart, Vucic said that his primary concern is to "enter this deal as an honest man and to leave that way". Meanwhile, the man the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) put forward as their candidate for mayor before the elections, Aleksandar Popovic, said that the DS preventing the meeting of the Belgrade assembly was a textbook example of this party's tyranny. "Anyone with a cool head can understand that the decision to schedule the constitutive session for July 14 is more than detrimental for democracy. No one is Europe, that we strive toward, behaves in this way, no one is even thinking about usurping the power and threatening democracy," Popovic told Vecernje Novosti daily. He added that the Democrats' attempt to "impose tyranny" at any cost, justified by references to Europe and European values, is "meaningless and degrading". "Respect for democratic principles is more important than who will exercise authority in Belgrade, because any government is replaceable," Popovic said. Vucic seen during the news conference today (Tanjug)

Radicals announce protests in Belgrade

The coalition is unhappy with acting Mayor Zoran Alimpić's decision to schedule the assembly session for July 14.

Vučić told journalists in a news conference in Belgrade today that the protests will be held "starting Wednesday".

He added the Radicals' coalition partners were close to agreement on how to proceed with the demonstrations, as well as about "the way in which we will implement these democratic changes that the Belgraders wish to see implemented".

The coalition will, according to the SRS official, take all legal measures to make sure the will of the voters is respected.

Vučić also said the explanation head for the July 14 date was "immoral and incredible", since Alimpić said he was not convinced that the SRS-DSS-SPS coalition does have a majority in the city assembly.

The SRS secretary general said this delay would "cost Belgrade dearly".

As for the speculation that the coalition in the capital might fall apart, Vučić said that his primary concern is to "enter this deal as an honest man and to leave that way".

Meanwhile, the man the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) put forward as their candidate for mayor before the elections, Aleksandar Popović, said that the DS preventing the meeting of the Belgrade assembly was a textbook example of this party's tyranny.

"Anyone with a cool head can understand that the decision to schedule the constitutive session for July 14 is more than detrimental for democracy. No one is Europe, that we strive toward, behaves in this way, no one is even thinking about usurping the power and threatening democracy," Popović told Večernje Novosti daily.

He added that the Democrats' attempt to "impose tyranny" at any cost, justified by references to Europe and European values, is "meaningless and degrading".

"Respect for democratic principles is more important than who will exercise authority in Belgrade, because any government is replaceable," Popović said.