"Democrats rejected LDP proposal to form single party"

BELGRADE The current clash between the opposition LDP and DS parties was triggered by the latter's rejection of a proposal to "unify into a single party." The suggestion came from the Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP) leader Cedomir Jovanovic, the Belgrade-based daily Blic writes. "Democrats rejected LDP proposal to form single party" His idea was that "the two parties united into one would have more chance of joining the government with the SNS, after elections." The newspaper said it learned this from "one of the participants" in the last meeting between the leaders of the Democrats (DS) and the LDP, held in late October. "Jovanovic cut to the chase at the very beginning of the meeting, to say that unification would be more useful and increase the chances of us joining the government after elections, because, as he said, remaining in the opposition would not bring any benefit. He explained that by saying that only as part of the government we can implement what we stand for. Along the way, he noted that the DS was disintegrating, that it was in a crisis, and that its ratings were dropping," the source was quoted as saying, and adding: "(DS official) Dragoljub Micunovic was the first to respond to Jovanovic and say that it was not true that the party was shaken, because it had stabilized, and then explained that the opposition had an important role and that not everyone can be in the government, like he (Jovanovic) imagined. As the meeting continued, we continued to discuss possible joint activities." But after the meeting, the two parties engaged in an open conflict. The newspaper further writes that "it did not go unnoticed" that Jovanovic several days later met with Aleksandar Vucic, that the LDP "entered deals with the SNS by the back door" when LDP Vice-President Ivan Andric was appointed chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Stabilization and Association, while an LDP official will also join the interim council in the city of Belgrade. This is expected to happen despite the fact that the party did not win any seats in the city assembly during the last elections. Meanwhile, the DS has not yet been invited to suggest their representative in the interim council, although a majority of members of the current city assembly come from this party. Cedomir Jovanovic (Tanjug, file) Blic

"Democrats rejected LDP proposal to form single party"

His idea was that "the two parties united into one would have more chance of joining the government with the SNS, after elections."

The newspaper said it learned this from "one of the participants" in the last meeting between the leaders of the Democrats (DS) and the LDP, held in late October.

"Jovanović cut to the chase at the very beginning of the meeting, to say that unification would be more useful and increase the chances of us joining the government after elections, because, as he said, remaining in the opposition would not bring any benefit. He explained that by saying that only as part of the government we can implement what we stand for. Along the way, he noted that the DS was disintegrating, that it was in a crisis, and that its ratings were dropping," the source was quoted as saying, and adding:

"(DS official) Dragoljub Mićunović was the first to respond to Jovanović and say that it was not true that the party was shaken, because it had stabilized, and then explained that the opposition had an important role and that not everyone can be in the government, like he (Jovanović) imagined. As the meeting continued, we continued to discuss possible joint activities."

But after the meeting, the two parties engaged in an open conflict.

The newspaper further writes that "it did not go unnoticed" that Jovanović several days later met with Aleksandar Vučić, that the LDP "entered deals with the SNS by the back door" when LDP Vice-President Ivan Andrić was appointed chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Stabilization and Association, while an LDP official will also join the interim council in the city of Belgrade.

This is expected to happen despite the fact that the party did not win any seats in the city assembly during the last elections. Meanwhile, the DS has not yet been invited to suggest their representative in the interim council, although a majority of members of the current city assembly come from this party.