Srdanovic: New Government’s First Steps Will Be to Ensure Rule of Law

Ilija Srdanovic (BETAPHOTO/MILAN ILIC)

Student List main candidate Ilija Srdanovic said on Nov. 2 that, as soon as it is formed, the new government’s prime concern will be to enact the rule of law and underlined that those who, over the past few days, have attempted to destroy documentation proving public administration corruption, will not go unpunished.

“The new cabinet’s first steps will pertain to the rule of law and taking over the most important control mechanisms of executive government so as to ensure equality for all,” Srdanovic said in an interview for the Nova daily.

Asked about potential candidates for ministerial seats and the office of prime minister, Srdanovic stated that “the [Student] List has multiple high-quality candidates for those positions” and that names can be discussed only after the final results of the snap parliamentary election are declared.

“Any coming arrests will be conducted in keeping with the law,” he added and asserted this will be done “wherever there is evidence of crimes,” which will be up to the prosecutor’s offices to determine.

Regarding the ongoing upheaval among Serbian media, specifically the firing of the Radar weekly’s freelancers and the shutdown of the Nova daily – both part Adria News Network, which was recently, and contentiously, bought by Alpac Capital – Srdanovic said that the Student List program “names free media for all as a fundamental societal value.”

The Student List also “absolutely” stands by its member Nemanja Karanovic’s claims – reported by the RTS public broadcasting service – that state-owned telecommunications company Telekom Srbija issued monthly payments to the Informer tabloid ranging from EUR500,000 to EUR700,000 and that there was an attempt to destabilize the state-owned Postanska Stedionica Bank by withdrawing RSD1 billion.

A well-known vehicle of the outgoing regime, the Informer media outlet – which includes an online portal, printed daily and a TV station – is known for its inflammatory rhetoric and penchant for unproven claims about the Serbian Progressive Party’s political opponents.

“Spending public funds, from the state budget, on such kinds of news providers is unacceptable and will not be allowed in the future,” Srdanovic stressed.