Ministries on parliamentary agenda today

Parliament is discussing the Law on Ministries, and it has been proposed not to create a Human and Minority Rights Ministry after all. The Democratic Party (DS)-led “For a European Serbia” coalition submitted an amendment to the draft law with a proposal not to create a separate ministry for this issue, as had been earlier announced. Ministries on parliamentary agenda today The group had proposed that it be part of the Justice Ministry, said DS Whip Nada Kolundzija. This would bring the total number of ministries down to 23, and the government would have 26, as opposed to 27, members. The Law on Ministries defines the number of ministries and their powers in a new government. But MPs from the ranks of ethnic minorities criticized this amendment, noting that minorities constitute 18 percent of Serbia's population. The lawmakers will have their work cut out for them on Wednesday, as they start a debate on amendments. Nearly 100 amendments have been submitted, most of them by the Serb Radical Party (SRS), Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Of the 84 proposed changes to the draft Law on Ministries, the majority requests a reduction in the number of envisaged portfolios, arguing that having 24 ministries would be too expensive for the country. The LDP proposed reducing the number of ministries to 14 from 24 by combining some departments and eliminating others. Parliament began discussing the Law on Ministries this morning. Parliamentary officials previously finished a discussion on changes to the government law under which there would be a first deputy prime minister. During yesterday’s debate, opposition parties claimed that creating such a position was unconstitutional, and the opposition was also against the idea of the prime minister having a so-called “golden vote” if voting on proposals ended in a tie. In addition to criticism from the opposition that the new government would be too big with 24 ministries, three deputy prime ministers and a prime minister, political analyst Slavisa Orlovic said that these problems were not as black and white as they appeared, since many members of the government would be occupying two positions at once. Orlovic told B92 that the creation of a first deputy prime minister was brought in as a concession to SPS leader Ivica Dacic, adding that the SPS would be heading the ministries that Russia was most interested in. “I will remind you of one detail. Directly after the elections, Ivica Dacic visited Russia. What did he say after that visit to Russia? There was an expectation that Russia could explicitly support a government with the Serb Radical Party and Democratic Party of Serbia." "That, of course, did not happen. I suppose that it is in Russia’s interest to have Serbia in the EU, but the fact that the SPS received the ministries that Russia is interested in is indicative,” surmised Orlovic. Lawmakers vote during today's session (Beta)

Ministries on parliamentary agenda today

The group had proposed that it be part of the Justice Ministry, said DS Whip Nada Kolundžija.

This would bring the total number of ministries down to 23, and the government would have 26, as opposed to 27, members. The Law on Ministries defines the number of ministries and their powers in a new government.

But MPs from the ranks of ethnic minorities criticized this amendment, noting that minorities constitute 18 percent of Serbia's population.

The lawmakers will have their work cut out for them on Wednesday, as they start a debate on amendments.

Nearly 100 amendments have been submitted, most of them by the Serb Radical Party (SRS), Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Of the 84 proposed changes to the draft Law on Ministries, the majority requests a reduction in the number of envisaged portfolios, arguing that having 24 ministries would be too expensive for the country.

The LDP proposed reducing the number of ministries to 14 from 24 by combining some departments and eliminating others.

Parliament began discussing the Law on Ministries this morning.

Parliamentary officials previously finished a discussion on changes to the government law under which there would be a first deputy prime minister.

During yesterday’s debate, opposition parties claimed that creating such a position was unconstitutional, and the opposition was also against the idea of the prime minister having a so-called “golden vote” if voting on proposals ended in a tie.

In addition to criticism from the opposition that the new government would be too big with 24 ministries, three deputy prime ministers and a prime minister, political analyst Slaviša Orlović said that these problems were not as black and white as they appeared, since many members of the government would be occupying two positions at once.

Orlović told B92 that the creation of a first deputy prime minister was brought in as a concession to SPS leader Ivica Dačić, adding that the SPS would be heading the ministries that Russia was most interested in.

“I will remind you of one detail. Directly after the elections, Ivica Dačić visited Russia. What did he say after that visit to Russia? There was an expectation that Russia could explicitly support a government with the Serb Radical Party and Democratic Party of Serbia."

"That, of course, did not happen. I suppose that it is in Russia’s interest to have Serbia in the EU, but the fact that the SPS received the ministries that Russia is interested in is indicative,” surmised Orlović.