Dačić demands removal of URS from his cabinet

BELGRADE SPS party leader and PM Ivica Dacic has announced that the government "will continue without the URS (United Regions of Serbia)." Addressing a news conference in Belgrade on Tuesday afternoon, Dacic explained that if Aleksandar Vucic's Serb Progressive Party (SNS) fails to support this, early elections will be called, "or some coalition will be formed without the SPS." Dacic demands removal of URS from his cabinet Dacic also said that he had offered URS leader and Finance and Economy Minister Mladjan Dinkic "to choose new departments for his party," but that his demands were "unacceptable." "Economy and finance are now key issues in Serbia and changes are needed in those sectors, for which reason I decided that Dinkic will no longer be at their helm," Dacic said. Earlier, sources close to the URS said that the party would remain in the reshuffled government after they reached an agreement with the SNS. However, the Progressives would not confirm this. B92 learned that Dinkic demanded to be made deputy prime minister in charge of investments, as well as minister of transport, tourism, telecommunications and information society; for Deputy PM Suzana Grubjesic to head Serbia's team in the negotiations with the EU, and for Verica Kalanovic to keep her regional development portfolio. Dinkic also wanted his party to continue to be in charge of the Serbia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA). Ivica Dacic is due to meet with President Tomislav Nikolic at 18:00 CET. A file photo of Mladjan Dinkic, Ivica Dacic, Aleksandar Vucic (Beta) B92

Dačić demands removal of URS from his cabinet

Dačić also said that he had offered URS leader and Finance and Economy Minister Mlađan Dinkić "to choose new departments for his party," but that his demands were "unacceptable."

"Economy and finance are now key issues in Serbia and changes are needed in those sectors, for which reason I decided that Dinkić will no longer be at their helm," Dačić said.

Earlier, sources close to the URS said that the party would remain in the reshuffled government after they reached an agreement with the SNS. However, the Progressives would not confirm this.

B92 learned that Dinkić demanded to be made deputy prime minister in charge of investments, as well as minister of transport, tourism, telecommunications and information society; for Deputy PM Suzana Grubješić to head Serbia's team in the negotiations with the EU, and for Verica Kalanović to keep her regional development portfolio.

Dinkić also wanted his party to continue to be in charge of the Serbia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA).

Ivica Dačić is due to meet with President Tomislav Nikolić at 18:00 CET.