Journalist: Socialist to Join New Government Hamstrung

Djordje Vukadinović/Beta/Miloš Miškov

Djordje Vukadinovic, the editor-in-chief of the New Serbian Political Thought, has said that the probability of Ivica Dacic, the leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia, being named prime minister is “virtually nonexistent,” adding that while the Socialists are bound to enter the new government they shall do so “with their wings somewhat clipped.”

In an April 10 guest appearance in the political evening talk show ‘Impression of the Week’ (Utisak Nedelje) on NovaS TV, Vukadinovic was asked about the probability of Dacic becoming the new prime minister. The response was: very low. However, Vukadinovic was of the opinion that the likelihood of Dacic’s promotion was low even prior to the elections, the Nova.rs website reports.

According to the journalist, Dacic was “allowed to build his campaign on the notion that he would become prime minister because Vucic needed Socialist-supporter votes to win the first round of presidential elections.” Now, however, Vukadinovic believes the Socialists will find themselves cut down a size. “Once the elections pass, regardless of their score, the Socialists invariably find their wings somewhat clipped, of which Vucic reminded them only days ago,” he said.

Vukadinovic believes that the Socialists will remain needed because, while “mathematically possible,” Vucic is unlikely to form a new government solely from the ranks of the 128 MPs he has at his disposal. Instead, the journalist expects “a diverse government, which [Vucic] will term a 'government of national unity'.”