Dacic Plays it Safe in Serbian Socialist Reshuffle

Almost nine months after being elected party president, Socialist Party boss Ivica Dacic - who is also Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Serbia - played safe in choosing a new leadership on Thursday.

Among the vice-presidents are veteran party officials Aleksandar Antic, Branko Ruzic, Slavica Djukic Dejanovic.

A new name among the vice-presidents is that of historian Predrag Markovic who was not active in politics so far.

Milutin Mrkonjic, a close associate of former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, was elected honorary president.

Nikola Sainovic, who has recently returned to Belgrade after serving the two-thirds of an 18-year prison sentence for war crimes in Kosovo, was appointed to the party's steering committee.

The latest polls suggest that the party and its coalition allies enjoy the support of about 15 per cent of the voters, which makes them the second strongest political force in Serbia.

While some analists believe that Dacic played on the safe side by proposing experienced party officials ahead of possible early elections, not all party veterans are happy with the changes.

Novica Toncev, a member of the party leadership, lobbied to become a vice-president but Dacic failed to nominate him.

"I am not mad at Dacic and we were not arguing as some media outles suggested. But I openly told Dacic I am not happy with his decision," Toncev told BIRN on Friday.

He added that he eventually reached a deal with his leader who instead nominated him to the party presidency and made him head of the local election teams.

Asked if the Socialists have chosen a leadership that can guarantee future election success, Toncev said the "results would show that clearly.

"Dacic elected a new...

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