Former Minister: Let Vucic Create a New Cabinet

Novica Toncev(BETAPHOTO/BRANISLAV BOZIC/DS)

Former minister and vice president of the Socialist Party of Serbia Novica Toncev said on March 20 that the best solution for the current political crisis was for Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to create a new cabinet.

In an interview with the BETA news agency Toncev said that the Socialist Party of Serbia would be part of the new cabinet if it promoted the party's program. "At a cabinet session a month ago I asked that Milos Vucevic and Ivica Dacic propose to Vucic that he be the prime minister designate. The prime minister is the biggest political office and Vucic as the person who received the most votes in elections should assume this post. Students and citizens often attack President Vucic for overstepping his jurisdictions and violating the Constitution. By being the prime minister Vucic would be in charge and could not be accused of violating the Constitution," Toncev said.

He added that by Vucic becoming the prime minister a dialogue with students and the opposition could begin. "Without a dialogue there is no solution to the political crisis," he said.

Commenting on opposition demands that a provisional government be created, Toncev said that this was still being discussed within the Socialist Party of Serbia. "My proposal is that Vucic accept the mandate for creating the cabinet and begin a dialogue with everyone. This cabinet could prepare new elections under fair conditions for all participants. My party's bodies have not debated the opposition's demand for the creation of a provisional cabinet," he said.