Serbia Might Get Prime Minister from Diaspora

Serbian Government building (BETAPHOTO/ANA SLOVIC)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is mulling over "importing" a new prime minister from abroad, the Danas newspaper wrote on March 21, citing unnamed well-informed sources.

"There have already been some talks" with a businessman of Serbian origin living and successfully working in the U.S., "who favors the incumbent authorities," a source told the daily. They went on to say that if an agreement was reached, that person "will be presented to the domestic public as an expert."

Declining to reveal said person's identity, Danas' source pointed out that the candidate might show up at Vucic's rally announced for March 28.

After an almost two-month-long wait, the Serbian parliament has finally acknowledged the fall of Milos Vucevic's cabinet and Vucic now has two options - either to nominate a new premier-designate, no later than April 18, or to dissolve the parliament and call a new general election.

Danas' interlocutors believe that in these circumstances of heightened tensions a new election absolutely would not suit the authorities, because it is not quite certain whether at least some of the students, who enjoy great trust among citizens, would take part in that election. Certain interlocutors think that Vucic's first option, after the acknowledging of Vucevic's resignation, will be the election of a new government and that he will aim to replace a good number of incumbent ministers, who are not popular among the public, with some new cadres.

However, it will be a problem for him to find a new yet cooperative  prime minister who is not burdened by any affairs or party issues, the daily added.