Opposition Describes Parliamentary Procedure as Unacceptable

Radomir Lazovic (BETAPHOTO/AMIR HAMZAGIC)

Radomir Lazovic of the Green-Left parliamentary group said on April 10 that the Serbian parliamentary opposition had agreed that the existing modus operandi of the Parliament of Serbia was unacceptable, and that the manner in which sessions had been scheduled and run should be altered.

After a second meeting of the parliamentary opposition parties the MP said he was a “big optimist” as to technical cooperation between them at the Parliament of Serbia.

“It is absolutely clear that the existing parliamentary procedure is unacceptable. We have reached a consensus that the sessions need to be called under regular procedure, and that there’s enough time to include opposition motions in the agenda. We have also agreed that a similar consensus should be reached regarding the work of the media and attacks against independent media, as well as electoral requirements,” the opposition MP explained.

Lazovic said that the opposition would prepare specific proposals as to how to improve the work of the Parliament, including a rotating presidency, because, as he put it, it shouldn’t be Orlic’s exclusive prerogative to decide what the Parliament should look like.

“It is truly significant to have diametrically opposed organizations, like the rightists on the one hand, and us on the other, that have agreed that the Parliament should not look like this. We are witnessing an open abuse here – no opposition motion can be put on the agenda – but that seems not to be enough, since they have decided not to call a session at all,” the Green-Left coalition whip said.