Head of provincial govt. "not considering stepping down"

Head of provincial govt. "not considering stepping down"

In the Democratic Party's talks with the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina (LSV) and the New Democratic Party (NDS) on a reshuffle of the provincial government, an agreement has been reached that the DS, as the party that has the most representatives in the provincial assembly, reserve the right to name the Vojvodina prime minister, he said.

Asked why the DS did not attend Tuesday's discussions on solving the political problems in Vojvodina, convened by Assembly Speaker Istvan Pasztor, Pajtić said that the DS did not want to discuss a concentration government because it is an impossible option.

"Discussions about a concentration government make no sense whatsoever because we have said that it is impossible and discussions about that subject would merely be a waste of time," Pajtić said.

He said that, for the DS, Pasztor's Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) is still part of the ruling majority in Vojvodina and added that the SVM should say whether it wants to remain so in the future.

The fact that Pasztor dissents at certain times does not mean that the DS or LSV assembly members would vote against him as assembly speaker, Pajtić said.

The NDS is an acceptable partner for the DS at provincial level, Pajtić said.

Asked whether a new majority has been agreed that does not include the SVM, Pajtić reiterated that, for him, the SVM is still a member of the ruling majority.

"I have Mr. Pastor's personal guarantees that the SVM will accept an agreement by the DS, the LSV and the NDS, and that the party wants to stay in the coalition, with the same capacities that it has at this time," Pajtić said.

Pajtić accused the Serb Progressive Party - which is in the opposition in the province but leads the ruling coalition at national level - of causing a significant decline in the number of foreign investments in Serbia over the past three years by "constantly making up some sort of crises and reshuffles."