PM-designate: More parties could join ruling coalition

LJUBOVIJA PM-Designate Ivica Dacic does not expect any changes to be made in the coalition agreement signed by the Sociaists, Progressives and United Regions of Serbia. However, he said that there is a possibility that some other parties could join the parliamentary majority. PM-designate: More parties could join ruling coalition At the same time, Dacic said that the agreed dynamics in the process of the forming of the government would be respected. He said that the Serbian parliament’s constitutive session would continue on July 23 where speaker and deputy speakers should be chosen. According to the future PM, another session should then be held where MPs will discuss the Law on Ministries and Government. The SPS leader announced that his party would hold a Main Board meeting next week, adding that the Socialists would then make a final decision on candidates for future ministers. He stressed that he did not expect the coalition agreement signed with the SNS and URS to undergo any changes. Dacic repeated that he had talked to Social-Democratic Party of Serbia (SDPS) leader Rasim Ljajic and Party of Democratic Action of Sandzak leader Sulejman Ugljanin on Friday. He added that he would meet with Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) leader Istvan Pastor on Monday in order to present him the program of the future government, regardless of whether the SVM wanted to join it or not. "We have agreed with the SNS and other partners to confer with some other parties as well, and see whether it is possible that some of them also join the coalition," he announced. Dacic rejected late Friday the view of the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia (SSSS) Party of United Pensioners of Serbia (PUPS) leader Jovan Krkobabic should not be a deputy prime minister because of his old age and called on society for calm. He considers any debate over how old someone is and what place they would occupy in the government unnecessary. “Every one of us ran in the elections and was given the legitimacy by the people,” said Dacic. The prime minister-designate added he was confident that the PUPS would work in the interests of all ministries they would be in charge of just like they had worked in the interests of pensioners earlier. “I appeal for calm, bearing in mind that everyone knows - and I said that publicly - that this government will mark the end of the wild neo-liberal capitalism in which the pursuit of profit was the most important thing,” Dacic told Belgrade-based Pink TV. He said that it meant that social dialogue would be the priority task for him as the prime minister, adding that trade unions and other societal groups in need of social justice were the main social partners apart from businessmen. The SSSS does not think that Krkobabic should be Serbia's deputy prime minister and minister of labor and social affairs, believing that this function should be performed by “a younger, bolder and more capable” person. They have urged Dacic to reconsider his decision regarding the matter. Ivica Dacic (Beta, file) Tanjug

PM-designate: More parties could join ruling coalition

At the same time, Dačić said that the agreed dynamics in the process of the forming of the government would be respected.

He said that the Serbian parliament’s constitutive session would continue on July 23 where speaker and deputy speakers should be chosen.

According to the future PM, another session should then be held where MPs will discuss the Law on Ministries and Government.

The SPS leader announced that his party would hold a Main Board meeting next week, adding that the Socialists would then make a final decision on candidates for future ministers.

He stressed that he did not expect the coalition agreement signed with the SNS and URS to undergo any changes.

Dačić repeated that he had talked to Social-Democratic Party of Serbia (SDPS) leader Rasim Ljajić and Party of Democratic Action of Sandžak leader Sulejman Ugljanin on Friday.

He added that he would meet with Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) leader Ištvan Pastor on Monday in order to present him the program of the future government, regardless of whether the SVM wanted to join it or not.

"We have agreed with the SNS and other partners to confer with some other parties as well, and see whether it is possible that some of them also join the coalition," he announced.

Dačić rejected late Friday the view of the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia (SSSS) Party of United Pensioners of Serbia (PUPS) leader Jovan Krkobabić should not be a deputy prime minister because of his old age and called on society for calm.

He considers any debate over how old someone is and what place they would occupy in the government unnecessary.

“Every one of us ran in the elections and was given the legitimacy by the people,” said Dačić.

The prime minister-designate added he was confident that the PUPS would work in the interests of all ministries they would be in charge of just like they had worked in the interests of pensioners earlier.

“I appeal for calm, bearing in mind that everyone knows - and I said that publicly - that this government will mark the end of the wild neo-liberal capitalism in which the pursuit of profit was the most important thing,” Dačić told Belgrade-based Pink TV.

He said that it meant that social dialogue would be the priority task for him as the prime minister, adding that trade unions and other societal groups in need of social justice were the main social partners apart from businessmen.

The SSSS does not think that Krkobabić should be Serbia's deputy prime minister and minister of labor and social affairs, believing that this function should be performed by “a younger, bolder and more capable” person.

They have urged Dačić to reconsider his decision regarding the matter.