Dinkic calls for end to austerity measures, belt-tightening

BELGRADE - Leader of the United Regions of Serbia (URS) Mladjan Dinkic has said that Serbia must put an end to austerity measures and belt-tightening as that is not a way out of the crisis.

Instead of that, Serbia needs investments in agriculture, construction industry, foreign direct investments and mass public works so that people could work and live from their work, Dinkic said at an election rally in Belgrade on Sunday.

"People have to work, spend, and only then the state will be better off. The state cannot be kick-started if severe spending cuts are in place," he said.

The URS advocates for abolition of the solidarity tax on total net earnings, which led to a reduction in pays of professors, doctors, and pregnant women when their allowances are overdue.
"Serbia has to abandon that policy and stimulate population growth, and not punish pregnant women," Dinkic underscored.

He pointed to the fact that his party had helped attract foreign companies such as Fiat, Yura, Bosch, which doubled the country's exports.

However, that is not enough, as every region in the country needs its own Fiat, said the leader of the URS, the party that calls for regionalization of Serbia.

Photo Tanjug/R. Prelic