Analysts disagree on whether cabinet crisis is over

BELGRADE Some analysts believe that the ruling coalition dispute has been resolved for the moment, others expect the coming days to show whether the crisis is over. Vladimir Goati commented on the situation to say that "some compromises" have been made, and that "previous events were a good chance to make the matter more serious and radicalized". Analysts disagree on whether cabinet crisis is over "Since they (ruling parties) did not do that, I believe - and I have no insider information - that some tete-a-tete compromises have been made. Probably about some top police jobs as well." Goati believes that the crisis, centering around PM Ivica Dacic's alleged contacts with members of criminal structures "looked insurmountable" yesterday morning, and that it was "to say the least reason enough to trigger early elections". The fact that this opportunity has not been used, he added, probably means that the most influential party - i.e., Aleksandar Vucic's SNS - "likely got something in return": "It could be a part of some deal that concerns the police, and some other things." Analyst Slavisa Orlovic on the other hand believes that the government's unity will be tested in the coming days, when we will learn who will be appointed as new police director, and "to what degree the fight against corruption will go all the way". Commenting on a statement issued on Monday after the cabinet session, asserting its unity "on all crucial issues", Orlovic noted that the government "brought the relations between its partners to the boiling point and experienced one of the biggest turbulences since it was formed". The statement on unity "should be seen along with statements coming from top SNS party officials", this analyst believes, recalling that they said the anti-corruption push "would go all the way, leaving nobody protected, regardless of who they are". "We can understand that in one of two ways: first, that certain reasons - internal or external - had won over, in favor of the government continuing, and second, that we will see the outcome of the police director appointment in the coming days, and how far the anti-corruption fight will go. The third point is that there will be no elections without agreement from abroad, but that does not mean that elections won't be called." Beta

Analysts disagree on whether cabinet crisis is over

"Since they (ruling parties) did not do that, I believe - and I have no insider information - that some tete-a-tete compromises have been made. Probably about some top police jobs as well."

Goati believes that the crisis, centering around PM Ivica Dačić's alleged contacts with members of criminal structures "looked insurmountable" yesterday morning, and that it was "to say the least reason enough to trigger early elections".

The fact that this opportunity has not been used, he added, probably means that the most influential party - i.e., Aleksandar Vučić's SNS - "likely got something in return":

"It could be a part of some deal that concerns the police, and some other things."

Analyst Slaviša Orlović on the other hand believes that the government's unity will be tested in the coming days, when we will learn who will be appointed as new police director, and "to what degree the fight against corruption will go all the way".

Commenting on a statement issued on Monday after the cabinet session, asserting its unity "on all crucial issues", Orlović noted that the government "brought the relations between its partners to the boiling point and experienced one of the biggest turbulences since it was formed".

The statement on unity "should be seen along with statements coming from top SNS party officials", this analyst believes, recalling that they said the anti-corruption push "would go all the way, leaving nobody protected, regardless of who they are".

"We can understand that in one of two ways: first, that certain reasons - internal or external - had won over, in favor of the government continuing, and second, that we will see the outcome of the police director appointment in the coming days, and how far the anti-corruption fight will go. The third point is that there will be no elections without agreement from abroad, but that does not mean that elections won't be called."