Vucic talks to MPs as his PM pick proves contentious to some

Vucic talks to MPs as his PM pick proves contentious to some

The meeting will be closed to the public.

Top SNS officials have arrived at the party's HQ, B92's reporter said on Monday morning.

One of SNS vice presidents, Marija Obradovic, said she would offer her full support to Brnabic. People's Peasant Party leader Marijan Risticevic, who in the past had negative comments about the LGBT population, said the same.

Replying to reporters, Vucic said that he expected full support to be given to the PM-designate.

Vucic last week nominated Brbanic for the top government role. If elected in the Assembly, she will become Serbia's first woman, and first openly gay prime minister.

Assembly members from United Serbia, one of the smaller parties in the ruling coalition, announced on Friday they would vote against. During the weekend, media reported that some people's deputies from the SNS were also dissatisfied with Vucic's choice.

Other smaller coalition partners, including the SPS, the SDSS, and the Movement of Socialists, said they would vote in favor of electing Brbanic and her government.

On Sunday, SNS Vice President Nebojsa Stefanovic said Vucic would on Monday "talk to SNS MPs in order to hear what they think - but will not change his nomination of Brbanic, because that decision is in the best interest of Serbian citizens."

Another deputy SNS leader, Milenko Jovanov, warned in a statement for Blic that SNS members of the Assembly and those from ruling coalition parties who vote against Brnabic will make themselves "a part of the opposition."