Socialists: No mention of replacement of premier

BELGRADE There has been "no mention officially" that a cabinet reshuffle may results in the appointment of a new prime minister, according to an SPS official. Branko Ruzic, who heads the parliament group of the ruling Socialists (SPS), added that he "could not comment on something that has never been officially mentioned, either within the SPS, or in official communication between the leaders of the ruling coalition." Socialists: No mention of replacement of premier SPS President Ivica Dacic is currently Serbia's prime minister, while the leader of the coalition's largest party, the SNS, Aleksandar Vucic, serves as his first deputy and defense minister. SNS official and Parliament Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic was quoted as telling Beta news agency over the weekend that Vucic would be "the best solution for Serbia's premier". Ruzic said on Monday that Stefanovic's statement "can be treated as legitimate party and personal position", but that "such positions can come from different parties, different officials, and political leaders." "The SPS on several occasions presented its stance that any model that could improve and make the government of PM Dacic even more efficient is welcome, but, of course, it is necessary to reach agreement on this as well as consensual approach, above all of the leaders of the coalition," he stated. Ruzic also said that he did not expect any talks about a cabinet reshuffle, "if it happens", to take place before mid-April. "New rounds of negotiations with the political representatives of the Kosovo Albanians are ahead of us and that's what's very important for Serbia, and in that sense I do not expect an agreement on the issue of a reshuffle, if it happens, to take place before the middle of the next month," Ruzic concluded. Branko Ruzic (Tanjug, file) Beta

Socialists: No mention of replacement of premier

SPS President Ivica Dačić is currently Serbia's prime minister, while the leader of the coalition's largest party, the SNS, Aleksandar Vučić, serves as his first deputy and defense minister.

SNS official and Parliament Speaker Nebojša Stefanović was quoted as telling Beta news agency over the weekend that Vučić would be "the best solution for Serbia's premier".

Ružić said on Monday that Stefanović's statement "can be treated as legitimate party and personal position", but that "such positions can come from different parties, different officials, and political leaders."

"The SPS on several occasions presented its stance that any model that could improve and make the government of PM Dačić even more efficient is welcome, but, of course, it is necessary to reach agreement on this as well as consensual approach, above all of the leaders of the coalition," he stated.

Ružić also said that he did not expect any talks about a cabinet reshuffle, "if it happens", to take place before mid-April.

"New rounds of negotiations with the political representatives of the Kosovo Albanians are ahead of us and that's what's very important for Serbia, and in that sense I do not expect an agreement on the issue of a reshuffle, if it happens, to take place before the middle of the next month," Ružić concluded.