Parliament elects new government

With 127 votes in favor, Serbia's parliament today elected the country's new government. A total of 164 MPs were present out of parliament's 250. 27 of those who attended the session voted against; none abstained, while ten of those present chose not to vote. Parliament elects new government A majority of 126 is needed for parliament to vote in a government in Serbia. The members of the new cabinet will now take an oath that reads: "I swear to loyalty to the Republic of Serbia and bind myself with my honor to respect the Constitution and laws, to conduct my duties as the government member conscientiously, responsibly and with dedication, and to be committed to preservation of Kosovo and Metohija within the Republic of Serbia". The voting tonight came after a full day of debating in the wake of now Premier Mirko Cvetkovic's presentation of his keynote address, when he said that his government will work towards a European future and that it will not accept Kosovo's independence. “One of the first moves of the new government will be to submit the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union to the parliament for ratification,” the PM announced. He added that the government will strengthen economy and social responsibility and lead a decisive battle against crime and corruption, and in favor of international justice. Cvetkovic, DS, called on MPs to support the key principles of the new government's program, that should be implemented in the next four years of its mandate. One of the first lawmaking initiatives will be the energy arrangement with the Russian Federation, while the priorities of the government will include improved relations with both that country and the United States and Serbia's continued diplomatic activity, he said. As he spoke today, the prime minister designate also informed the lawmakers that the ruling coalition will be made up of the DS-led ticket, the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition and ethnic minority parties. Cvetkovic confirmed that his government will have 24 portfolios, one minister without portfolio, one vice premier and three deputies. Serbia's new ruling majority is made up of three coalitions that comprise a total of 11 parties. The largest among them, the Democrats (DS), who proposed Cvetkovic for office although he is not formally a party member, took part in the May 11 elections under the name, "For a European Serbia" and along with four other parties: G17 Plus, the League of Vojvodina Social Democrats (LSV), the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) and the Sandzak Democratic Party (SDP). The Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) had a pre-election coalition of its own, which included the Associated Pensioners Party (PUPS) and United Serbia (JS). Finally, the ticket dubbed "Bosniak List for a European Sandzak", now also a part of the new ruling coalition, is made up of the Sandzak Reformists, the Bosniak Democratic Party, and the Party of Democratic Action (SDA). Cvetkovic reads his cabinet's program goals in parliament today (FoNet) Ministers The composition of the new cabinet is as follows: Ivica Dacic (SPS): first deputy premier, interior minister Bozidar Djelic (DS): deputy, science and technological development minister Mladjan Dinkic (G17 Pus): deputy, economy and regional development Jovan Krkobabic (PUPS): deputy Vuk Jeremic (DS): foreign minister Dragan Sutanovac (DS): defense ministers Dijana Dragutinovic (DS): finance minister Snezana Malovic (DS): justice minister Sasa Dragin (DS): agriculture minister Petar Skundric (SPS):mining and energy minister Milutin Mrkonjic (SPS):infrastructure minister Slobodan Milosavljevic (DS): trade and services minister Zarko Obradovic (SPS): education minister Snezana Samardzic Markovic (G17 Plus): sports and youth minister Tomica Milosavljevic (G17 Plus): health ministers Jasna Matic (G17 Plus): telecommunications minister Rasim Ljajic (SDP): labor and social policy minister Oliver Dulic (DS): environment minister Nebojsa Bradic (G17 Plus): culture minister Goran Bodganovic (DS): Kosovo minister Verica Kalanovic (G17 Plus): National Investment Plan minister Srdjan Sreckovic (SPO): religion minister Svetozar Ciplic (DS): human and minority rights minister Sulejman Ugljanin (SDA): minister without portfolio

Parliament elects new government

A majority of 126 is needed for parliament to vote in a government in Serbia.

The members of the new cabinet will now take an oath that reads: "I swear to loyalty to the Republic of Serbia and bind myself with my honor to respect the Constitution and laws, to conduct my duties as the government member conscientiously, responsibly and with dedication, and to be committed to preservation of Kosovo and Metohija within the Republic of Serbia".

The voting tonight came after a full day of debating in the wake of now Premier Mirko Cvetković's presentation of his keynote address, when he said that his government will work towards a European future and that it will not accept Kosovo's independence.

“One of the first moves of the new government will be to submit the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union to the parliament for ratification,” the PM announced.

He added that the government will strengthen economy and social responsibility and lead a decisive battle against crime and corruption, and in favor of international justice.

Cvetković, DS, called on MPs to support the key principles of the new government's program, that should be implemented in the next four years of its mandate.

One of the first lawmaking initiatives will be the energy arrangement with the Russian Federation, while the priorities of the government will include improved relations with both that country and the United States and Serbia's continued diplomatic activity, he said.

As he spoke today, the prime minister designate also informed the lawmakers that the ruling coalition will be made up of the DS-led ticket, the SPS-PUPS-JS coalition and ethnic minority parties.

Cvetković confirmed that his government will have 24 portfolios, one minister without portfolio, one vice premier and three deputies.

Serbia's new ruling majority is made up of three coalitions that comprise a total of 11 parties.

The largest among them, the Democrats (DS), who proposed Cvetković for office although he is not formally a party member, took part in the May 11 elections under the name, "For a European Serbia" and along with four other parties: G17 Plus, the League of Vojvodina Social Democrats (LSV), the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) and the Sandžak Democratic Party (SDP).

The Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) had a pre-election coalition of its own, which included the Associated Pensioners Party (PUPS) and United Serbia (JS).

Finally, the ticket dubbed "Bosniak List for a European Sandžak", now also a part of the new ruling coalition, is made up of the Sandžak Reformists, the Bosniak Democratic Party, and the Party of Democratic Action (SDA).

Ministers

The composition of the new cabinet is as follows:

Ivica Dačić (SPS): first deputy premier, interior minister

Božidar Đelić (DS): deputy, science and technological development minister

Mlađan Dinkić (G17 Pus): deputy, economy and regional development

Jovan Krkobabić (PUPS): deputy

Vuk Jeremić (DS): foreign minister

Dragan Šutanovac (DS): defense ministers

Dijana Dragutinović (DS): finance minister

Snežana Malović (DS): justice minister

Saša Dragin (DS): agriculture minister

Petar Škundrić (SPS):mining and energy minister

Milutin Mrkonjić (SPS):infrastructure minister

Slobodan Milosavljević (DS): trade and services minister

Žarko Obradović (SPS): education minister

Snežana Samardžić Marković (G17 Plus): sports and youth minister

Tomica Milosavljević (G17 Plus): health ministers

Jasna Matić (G17 Plus): telecommunications minister

Rasim Ljajić (SDP): labor and social policy minister

Oliver Dulić (DS): environment minister

Nebojša Bradić (G17 Plus): culture minister

Goran Bodganović (DS): Kosovo minister

Verica Kalanović (G17 Plus): National Investment Plan minister

Srđan Srećković (SPO): religion minister

Svetozar Čiplić (DS): human and minority rights minister

Sulejman Ugljanin (SDA): minister without portfolio