Leaders address issue of ruling coalition in Belgrade

BELGRADE It will soon be known whether the coalition of the Democrats (DS) and the Socialists (SPS) will stay in power in Belgrade, PM and SPS leader Ivica Dacic says. Also on Monday, First Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) Aleksandar Vucic said that there was “no reason for rush in solving the issue." Leaders address issue of ruling coalition in Belgrade Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas, who is also the leader of the DS, has been mentioned in a negative context over the last couple of days, particularly during the government reshuffle debate in parliament. Vucic criticized Djilas, announcing that "it would be checked out how Djilas gained his fortune and influence on media," whereas Dacic said while appearing on TV on Sunday evening that Djilas was “on the right track to become a ‘has-been’.” However, on Monday both were more cautious, in their separate statements. Dacic refused to say anything more except repeat his observation that Djilas was "someone whose political career is past its peak" while Vucic said that there should be no rush in considering replacement of Djilas. This subject would be on the agenda after the finalization of the talks between Belgrade and Pristina as well as the realisation of the agreement on “big [foreign] investments”, Vucic said. When asked whether his statement was an announcement of the end of the city authorities in the current make-up, i.e. with Djilas as the mayor, Dacic’s answer was negative. Since he voiced that at a joint press conference with French Minister Delegate for European Affairs Thierry Repentin, Dacic was also asked "whom the French would cooperate with in the future joint projects, such the announced construction of Belgrade metro." The Prime Minister said that the projects with France were of “permanent character”, so these had nothing to do with the fact who was or who would be in power, observing that the reporter’s question was posed “in order to be found out what the SPS and the SNS plan to do with Djilas.” “We have not discussed it yet, but it will be an item on the agenda in the following days,” Dacic said. Vucic also announced on Monday that the issue would be discussed with the partners from the coalition, but after the dialogue in Brussels and finalisation of big investments. “I don’t think that there is a need for a big rush, but I do think that it is important big jobs in Belgrade to be continued, and we have a lot of business to do in the entire Serbia,” Vucic said when asked to comment Dacic’s statement about Djilas as the one who would soon be a “has-been.” Vucic confirmed that he discussed the issue several times with Dacic and concluded that the main boards of the SNS and the SPS would make a decision on the authorities in Belgrade; Vucic also voiced his expectation that he and Dacic would conferred about how they see the future of Belgrade and Vojvodina after the end of the dialogue in Brussels on September 8 and some big investments. Commenting Djilas’ latest public appearances, Vucic - who met with Djilas last month to talk about a big project on Belgrade waterside management - said that it was “obvious that anger and hatred do not yield the best possible results.” Djilas himself did not want to comment statements of the SNS and SPS leaders on Monday, but announced that he would do so on Tuesday. The DS and the SPS have been sharing the power in Belgrade for the last five years. There has been some speculation that the SPS could turn its back to the DS and form a future governing majority with the SNS and the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS). Vucic, however, for the time being, denies a possibility that the SNS could come into power in Belgrade that way, voicing his stance that - considering the fact that he, as the SNS’ candidate for Belgrade mayor at the elections last year was defeated by Djilas, who won by a landslide - the general public would take it badly. The DS has 46 seats in the 110-seat city assembly, the SNS has 37, and the SPS and the DSS have nine each. Dragan Djilas (file) VIP

Leaders address issue of ruling coalition in Belgrade

Belgrade Mayor Dragan Đilas, who is also the leader of the DS, has been mentioned in a negative context over the last couple of days, particularly during the government reshuffle debate in parliament. Vučić criticized Đilas, announcing that "it would be checked out how Đilas gained his fortune and influence on media," whereas Dačić said while appearing on TV on Sunday evening that Đilas was “on the right track to become a ‘has-been’.”

However, on Monday both were more cautious, in their separate statements. Dačić refused to say anything more except repeat his observation that Đilas was "someone whose political career is past its peak" while Vučić said that there should be no rush in considering replacement of Đilas.

This subject would be on the agenda after the finalization of the talks between Belgrade and Priština as well as the realisation of the agreement on “big [foreign] investments”, Vučić said.

When asked whether his statement was an announcement of the end of the city authorities in the current make-up, i.e. with Đilas as the mayor, Dačić’s answer was negative.

Since he voiced that at a joint press conference with French Minister Delegate for European Affairs Thierry Repentin, Dačić was also asked "whom the French would cooperate with in the future joint projects, such the announced construction of Belgrade metro."

The Prime Minister said that the projects with France were of “permanent character”, so these had nothing to do with the fact who was or who would be in power, observing that the reporter’s question was posed “in order to be found out what the SPS and the SNS plan to do with Đilas.”

“We have not discussed it yet, but it will be an item on the agenda in the following days,” Dačić said.

Vučić also announced on Monday that the issue would be discussed with the partners from the coalition, but after the dialogue in Brussels and finalisation of big investments.

“I don’t think that there is a need for a big rush, but I do think that it is important big jobs in Belgrade to be continued, and we have a lot of business to do in the entire Serbia,” Vučić said when asked to comment Dačić’s statement about Đilas as the one who would soon be a “has-been.”

Vučić confirmed that he discussed the issue several times with Dačić and concluded that the main boards of the SNS and the SPS would make a decision on the authorities in Belgrade; Vučić also

voiced his expectation that he and Dačić would conferred about how they see the future of Belgrade and Vojvodina after the end of the dialogue in Brussels on September 8 and some big investments.

Commenting Đilas’ latest public appearances, Vučić - who met with Đilas last month to talk about a big project on Belgrade waterside management - said that it was “obvious that anger and hatred do not yield the best possible results.” Đilas himself did not want to comment statements of the SNS and SPS leaders on Monday, but announced that he would do so on Tuesday.

The DS and the SPS have been sharing the power in Belgrade for the last five years. There has been some speculation that the SPS could turn its back to the DS and form a future governing majority with the SNS and the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS).

Vučić, however, for the time being, denies a possibility that the SNS could come into power in Belgrade that way, voicing his stance that - considering the fact that he, as the SNS’ candidate for Belgrade mayor at the elections last year was defeated by Đilas, who won by a landslide - the general public would take it badly.

The DS has 46 seats in the 110-seat city assembly, the SNS has 37, and the SPS and the DSS have nine each.