"City govt. in Belgrade to be replaced soon"

BELGRADE Cabinet minister and SNS party vice-president Zorana Mihajlovic has said that the change of the city government in Belgrade will happen "very soon." "Belgrade deserves a more open, more honest, more efficient government and I expect that it will happen very soon," she told RTS on Thursday. Mihajlovic added that Belgrade "deserves a mayor who will work from dawn until dusk." "City govt. in Belgrade to be replaced soon" She pointed out that she was "worried and disappointed because of the attacks coming from the Democratic Party (DS)." According to Mihajlovic, the SNS "has a great reputation among the people, as does its president (Aleksandar Vucic) - but is not using it to gain absolute power, but to bring together young people, professionals, to move Serbia forward." "The same applies to Belgrade," said Mihajlovic, in response to accusations by the opposition that Vucic "has the last word on everything." "When you start talking about a dictatorship, it's like the saying where the thief is shouting, 'catch the thief'," she was quoted. "Who is the person exhibiting dictatorial behavior, who is dispersing those who disagree with him in his party - it's Dragan Djilas, that's what he did to his own party when he became president," said Mihajlovic. She also told RTS that "all spending, including money from the city budget," will be looked into, and that "all those who committed abuses" would be held responsible, pointing out to DS leader and Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas as well. She said that Djilas and his Democrats (DS) were "trying to stop changes and investigations into the spending of money in Belgrade." Mihajlovic then stated that Belgraders "must have the answers to the question why Belgrade is about EUR 900 million in debt, and where the money went." Commenting on the proposal to, in the future, elect the capital city's mayor directly, Mihajlovic said that this "will be discussed." Serbian Prime Minister and leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia Ivica Dacic said on Wednesday that the government in Belgrade" will be changed" - but that this is yet to be discussed. Dacic could not specify when he and Aleksandar Vucic would have this discussion. (Beta, file) Beta Tanjug

"City govt. in Belgrade to be replaced soon"

She pointed out that she was "worried and disappointed because of the attacks coming from the Democratic Party (DS)."

According to Mihajlović, the SNS "has a great reputation among the people, as does its president (Aleksandar Vučić) - but is not using it to gain absolute power, but to bring together young people, professionals, to move Serbia forward."

"The same applies to Belgrade," said Mihajlović, in response to accusations by the opposition that Vučić "has the last word on everything."

"When you start talking about a dictatorship, it's like the saying where the thief is shouting, 'catch the thief'," she was quoted.

"Who is the person exhibiting dictatorial behavior, who is dispersing those who disagree with him in his party - it's Dragan Đilas, that's what he did to his own party when he became president," said Mihajlović.

She also told RTS that "all spending, including money from the city budget," will be looked into, and that "all those who committed abuses" would be held responsible, pointing out to DS leader and Belgrade Mayor Dragan Đilas as well.

She said that Đilas and his Democrats (DS) were "trying to stop changes and investigations into the spending of money in Belgrade."

Mihajlović then stated that Belgraders "must have the answers to the question why Belgrade is about EUR 900 million in debt, and where the money went."

Commenting on the proposal to, in the future, elect the capital city's mayor directly, Mihajlović said that this "will be discussed."

Serbian Prime Minister and leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia Ivica Dačić said on Wednesday that the government in Belgrade" will be changed" - but that this is yet to be discussed.

Dačić could not specify when he and Aleksandar Vučić would have this discussion.