Serbia Fires Power Chief For Buying Limos

Serbia's government on Thursday fired Aleksandar Obradovic, a member of the ruling Progressive Party, for purchasing two Audis for the company in defiance of the belt-tightening measures introduced by the government.

Obradovic had been head of the Serbian power company since 2012.

His career at the top of EPS appeared doomed from Tuesday, when Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic announced that the head of a major public company would be sacked soon over the purchase of luxury vehicles.

The move came just two days after Vucic announced that parliamentary elections will be held on April 24 and the sacking of EPS chief is believed to be a first move in the ruling party's campaign.

Last Thursday, the government asked President Tomislav Nikolic to dissolve parliament and schedule the elections.

As the assembly in the northern province of Vojvodina and most local governments across Serbia were elected in May 2012, regular elections for the province's legislature and for new local authorities must be held in April or May.

Local elections and provincial elections in Vojvodina are yet to be scheduled.