Stefanovic: SNS wants faster reforms

BELGRADE - Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) deputy leader Nebojsa Stefanovic said on Friday that the upcoming early elections are an opportunity for SNS President Aleksandar Vucic - who he hopes will become the new prime minister - to demonstrate that faster reforms are possible.

The new government needs to be as small as possible in order to be efficient, Stefanovic told TV Pink.

The SNS could win the most votes in the elections but still not enough to form a government, which would probably lead to attempts by other parties to do so, Stefanovic said.

The SNS wants a more energetic government that will fight for new jobs, investors and the rule of law, Stefanovic said.

Asked what party could be partnering the SNS in a coalition government, Stefanovic said that it could only be one that is ready to jointly embark on the fight against crime and corruption and on deep economic reforms to enable Serbia to continue on its path towards the EU.

"We do not seek, nor have we ever sought, to govern Serbia on our own," he said.

Stefanovic said that efforts are under way to find strategic partners for companies under restructuring, and that the goals are to ensure decent salaries to all public sector employees and security to pensioners.

Stefanovic announced that the SNS electoral campaign is to kick off on Friday with a rally in Nis, adding that the objective is for Serbia to become an evenly developed country and that more attention must be devoted to its southern regions.

Photo Tanjug/M. Jelesijevic (Archive)