Opposition slams changes in procedure

Opposition parties in the Serbian parliament have opposed the changes proposed for the parliamentary rules of procedure. The Liberal Democratic party (LDP), Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), and Serb Radical Party (SRS) have all announced they would vote against the changes. Opposition slams changes in procedure The LDP stated that it will not support the ruling coalition's proposal because it will not help in making parliament work more effectively, party leader Cedomir Jovanovic said on Monday. He continued that the LDP supports a complete overhaul for parliament, not just of the procedures but of the way this institution functions and the relation it has with other institutions. “Instead of complete changes we get a proposal for changing and making additions of several articles, some of which will only create new chaos instead of the current problems,” Jovanovic said. He said that the proposed changes show the ruling coalition's "immaturity". Jovanovic added that the proposal is also unconstitutional, unfounded in the current parliamentary practices, and that it will cause even more problems. DSS official Zoran Vacic said that parliament’s procedures need to be more liberal with more opportunities for MPs to give the opinions they hold personally and the thoughts of their parties. According to him, the procedures under which parliament operates should not be changed because over 300 laws have been passed under the current set of rules, even though they “strong elements of restrictiveness”. DSS spokesman Andreja Mladenovic said that the announced changes would limit the amount of time designated for stating violations and could thus infringe on the democratic principles and functioning of the parliament. “There is an effort being made to decrease the rights of MPs of the oppositions and all parties in parliament by limiting the amount of time for reporting violations of the procedures,” he said. SRS official Dragan Todorovic stated today that the ruling coalition wants to “suffocate the opposition and democracy” in the parliament with the new procedures and the abolishment of television broadcasts of the parliamentary sessions. Todorovic believes that behind all this is an effort to prevent control functions that the legislative branch has over the executive and judicial aspects of power in the country. He said that with these new efforts the ruling coalition is trying to implement something that they once fought against, when they criticized attempts to stifle opposition freedoms. Todorovic said that at tomorrow’s parliament session, the Radicals would give their arguments against the proposed changes, but that based on Article 160 of the rules of procedure, they will not be able to submit any amendments. “That fact alone speaks enough about the ruling majority—the terror by majority— that wants to make changes, not true consensus or any kind of agreement,” Todorovic said.

Opposition slams changes in procedure

The LDP stated that it will not support the ruling coalition's proposal because it will not help in making parliament work more effectively, party leader Čedomir Jovanović said on Monday.

He continued that the LDP supports a complete overhaul for parliament, not just of the procedures but of the way this institution functions and the relation it has with other institutions.

“Instead of complete changes we get a proposal for changing and making additions of several articles, some of which will only create new chaos instead of the current problems,” Jovanović said.

He said that the proposed changes show the ruling coalition's "immaturity".

Jovanović added that the proposal is also unconstitutional, unfounded in the current parliamentary practices, and that it will cause even more problems.

DSS official Zoran Vacić said that parliament’s procedures need to be more liberal with more opportunities for MPs to give the opinions they hold personally and the thoughts of their parties.

According to him, the procedures under which parliament operates should not be changed because over 300 laws have been passed under the current set of rules, even though they “strong elements of restrictiveness”.

DSS spokesman Andreja Mladenović said that the announced changes would limit the amount of time designated for stating violations and could thus infringe on the democratic principles and functioning of the parliament.

“There is an effort being made to decrease the rights of MPs of the oppositions and all parties in parliament by limiting the amount of time for reporting violations of the procedures,” he said.

SRS official Dragan Todorović stated today that the ruling coalition wants to “suffocate the opposition and democracy” in the parliament with the new procedures and the abolishment of television broadcasts of the parliamentary sessions.

Todorović believes that behind all this is an effort to prevent control functions that the legislative branch has over the executive and judicial aspects of power in the country.

He said that with these new efforts the ruling coalition is trying to implement something that they once fought against, when they criticized attempts to stifle opposition freedoms.

Todorović said that at tomorrow’s parliament session, the Radicals would give their arguments against the proposed changes, but that based on Article 160 of the rules of procedure, they will not be able to submit any amendments.

“That fact alone speaks enough about the ruling majority—the terror by majority— that wants to make changes, not true consensus or any kind of agreement,” Todorović said.