DACIC INSISTS NO NEW SERBIAN GOVERNMENT POSSIBLE WITHOUT SPS
BBC Monitoring International Reports - May 9, 2008 Friday

Text of report by Serbian wide-circulation tabloid Vecernje novosti, on 7 May

[Interview with Socialist Party of Serbia Chairman Ivica Dacic by Milan Babovic; place and date not given: "Only With Kostunica"]

"It would be impossible for us to form a government with the DS [Democratic Party]," SPS [Socialist Party of Serbia] leader Ivica Dacic has said categorically in reply to Vecernje Novosti question whether his party was a secret "player" of the coalition gathered around Boris Tadic's party.

[Babovic] So there is absolutely no chance that you might be in a government led by the Democrats?

[Dacic] That possibility exists only if Kostunica enters some kind of an arrangement with them, and at the moment that is science fiction.

[Babovic] Still, the DS no longer sees the Socialists as some kind of monsters. Furthermore, they have not ruled you out as a coalition partner.

[Dacic] No one can rule us out any more. I am not surprised by such a DS stand, because they also know that they need us, and that there can be no government without us. The DS has lost a lot of time, as they should have realized this at the same time as Kostunica did. If a coalition with the DS implies the LDP [Liberal Democratic Party], Nenad Canak, and Vuk Draskovic, then this is totally unacceptable to us, and our view of that bloc is identical to Kostunica's.

[Babovic] Would anything change if Tadic were to renounce the SPO [Serbian Renewal Movement] and the LSV [League of Vojvodina Social Democrats]?

[Dacic] No. We will coordinate all our future moves with the DSS [Democratic Party of Serbia], and I do not believe that such a combination is acceptable to them. We are guided only by state and national interests, and principles of social justice. We are not offering ourselves to anyone. However, the election math clearly indicates that there will be no new parliamentary majority in Serbia without an agreement between the DSS-NS [New Serbia] and our coalition. This is not wishful thinking but a political reality.

[Babovic] Has this reality been turned into a concrete agreement between the SPS and the DSS?

[Dacic] We are in touch with the DSS, and we openly say that we are ready to talk with them first about what kind of majority the plan to form. These are our well-known views, and we can discuss an arrangement with the DSS only in that context. It is a principle of ours and theirs that election combinations can only be discussed on 12 May.

[Babovic] Do you think that a government by the Radicals and "the populists" is a done deal?

[Dacic] I do not know. However, I am convinced that a government by the SRS [Serbian Radical Party], the DSS, and the SPS would be the best solution for Serbia.

[Babovic] But the Radicals do not see you in such a government.

[Dacic] It is true that they are not too enthusiastic to see us in that government. That is why they keep saying that they want to make a majority only with the DSS, because they are sure that together with "the populists" they will have enough seats for a majority. But that is not realistic. They can do what they like, but they have to be aware that after Sunday [ 11 May election day] they will have to talk to us. And our attitude towards them will depend on their attitude towards us.

[Babovic] Have you definitely decided that you will not support a minority government by the SRS and "the populists"?

[Dacic] We will never again support anybody's minority government. That is definite. Those who are offering us minority support are doing so to undermine us. Who wants to cooperate with us has to do so publicly.

[Babovic] Which ministries would you like to get in the new government?

[Dacic] We do not have a wish list because we are not fighting for power. All we want is a full and consistent implementation of the key principles of our policies. These are the struggle for a unified Serbia, for KiM [Kosovo and Metohija] within our borders, and the rights of the Serbs in Croatia. We will insist on the social reform of the state, and a complete revision of this ugly concept of liberal capitalism. This means improving the rights of women and workers, and strengthening the role of trade unions, changing the Labour Law, and the laws on privatization, employment, and pensions. We will insist on the introduction of free education and medical care, and on putting a stop to businesses treating workers as slaves.

[Babovic] It would be logical then for you to get the labour ministry, and perhaps the health ministry as well.

[Dacic] The most important thing is that we can say that we implemented our policies before the next election. We will also propose the formation of a ministry for veteran issues.

Against Initialing

[Babovic] Both the DSS and the Radicals say that they will annul the SAA [Stability and Association Agreement] when they come to power. Why are you silent on this?

[Dacic] Because we were against even initialing it. We are not against entering the EU, but we believe that we should first determine what the Brussels attitude towards Serbia is, and whether they also plan to offer such an agreement to Kosovo soon.

Sure Bet

[Babovic] Would you dare bet that you will win more votes than the LDP?

[Dacic] Absolutely. I am calling on all betting places to put their money on us against Ceda [Cedomir Jovanovic]. That will be their surest bet in this election.

Source: Vecernje novosti, Belgrade, in Serbian 7 May 08 p2
Posted for Fair Use only.