Tadić wants same rule on state, city level

President Boris Tadic said that he is convinced the coalition forming the state government will put together the Belgrade local administration as well. Tadic told daily Vecernje Novosti that it would be good for his Democrats-led “For A European Serbia” ticket and the coalition gathered around the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) to be copied on the level of Belgrade, adding that it would be "impossible" for governments with two completely different concepts to make one integrated system functional. Tadic wants same rule on state, city level “That is why I am convinced that it is vital that the city and state governments be united and I am convinced that it will be that way,” he said. Reacting to accusations that the new 28-member government with 24 ministries is too bulky, Tadic said that the size of the government depends on the number of parties involved, the number of parties that received the support of the citizens, and the appetites of the parties. He said that it is absurd that the Serb Radical Party (SRS) is the most critical of the announced large government, "considering that they participated in governments that had up to 35 ministries". “Serbia needs to move towards a government of some 15 ministries. When there are more parties in the government, it will be larger,” the president said, adding that party appetites did exist as the cabinet was put together, but that the government results "from all of the political interest of the parties, which are legitimized by the votes of the people". Commenting on the so-called “golden vote,” which the future prime minister will have, Tadic said that a government with an even number of members "must have a mechanism to decided and to not fall into stalemates". Under the rule, if there is a tie in any government vote, the premier will make the decision. Asked whether he believes that SPS President Ivica Dacic, who is a candidate for minister of the interior, will arrest Hague fugitives, the DS leader said that everyone is obligated to respect the law, and that this goes for all government members, even Dacic. “The security services and police must arrest everyone indicted before our courts and the Hague Tribunal. I am sure that all members of the government, whether they are from DS, SPS or G17, or other parties, will respect their legal obligations. Be sure that this is how it will be,” Tadic said. Regarding the reported conflicts that were exposed within the DS during the discussions to select a new candidate for prime minister, Tadic said that there were two other names along with Mirko Cvetkovic – Bojan Pajtic and Vuk Jeremic – and that there were votes for each of them at the meeting of the DS presidency. “Of course there are heated debates and discussions within DS but that is just another quality of the party. The opening of the candidate for prime minister issue says that I wanted to spur debate, even though I could have decided based on a decision by the main board,” he said, adding that "the whole situation was unnecessarily made to appear as a scandal". Speaking of the political reconciliation between the Socialists and Democrats, Tadic said that he "absolutely believes in the national policies which are moving towards a reconciliation, because that is the only way to protect the legitimate interest of the Serb people who live in all the regional countries".

Tadić wants same rule on state, city level

“That is why I am convinced that it is vital that the city and state governments be united and I am convinced that it will be that way,” he said.

Reacting to accusations that the new 28-member government with 24 ministries is too bulky, Tadić said that the size of the government depends on the number of parties involved, the number of parties that received the support of the citizens, and the appetites of the parties.

He said that it is absurd that the Serb Radical Party (SRS) is the most critical of the announced large government, "considering that they participated in governments that had up to 35 ministries".

“Serbia needs to move towards a government of some 15 ministries. When there are more parties in the government, it will be larger,” the president said, adding that party appetites did exist as the cabinet was put together, but that the government results "from all of the political interest of the parties, which are legitimized by the votes of the people".

Commenting on the so-called “golden vote,” which the future prime minister will have, Tadić said that a government with an even number of members "must have a mechanism to decided and to not fall into stalemates".

Under the rule, if there is a tie in any government vote, the premier will make the decision.

Asked whether he believes that SPS President Ivica Dačić, who is a candidate for minister of the interior, will arrest Hague fugitives, the DS leader said that everyone is obligated to respect the law, and that this goes for all government members, even Dačić.

“The security services and police must arrest everyone indicted before our courts and the Hague Tribunal. I am sure that all members of the government, whether they are from DS, SPS or G17, or other parties, will respect their legal obligations. Be sure that this is how it will be,” Tadić said.

Regarding the reported conflicts that were exposed within the DS during the discussions to select a new candidate for prime minister, Tadić said that there were two other names along with Mirko Cvetković – Bojan Pajtić and Vuk Jeremić – and that there were votes for each of them at the meeting of the DS presidency.

“Of course there are heated debates and discussions within DS but that is just another quality of the party. The opening of the candidate for prime minister issue says that I wanted to spur debate, even though I could have decided based on a decision by the main board,” he said, adding that "the whole situation was unnecessarily made to appear as a scandal".

Speaking of the political reconciliation between the Socialists and Democrats, Tadić said that he "absolutely believes in the national policies which are moving towards a reconciliation, because that is the only way to protect the legitimate interest of the Serb people who live in all the regional countries".