Dačić warns SPS officials to toe party line

Dačić warns SPS officials to toe party line

BELGRADE -- The publicly voiced deviation from the SPS position on continued cooperation with the SNS was an attempt within the party to "overthrow" him, says Ivica Dačić.

"It is legitimate - if it takes place during the meetings of party organs. After a decision has been made, no one has the right to present different views without consequences," the leader of the Socialists (SPS) said in a written statement sent to the daily Politika, published on Thursday.

According to reports, the leader of the Socialists responded to the newspaper in this way because he is currently abroad.

He also announced that he would schedule a meeting of the SPS Presidency and the Main Board "because this party cannot have two policies," and added that "everyone will have to explain their actions ".

Dačić's reaction came after SPS official Novica Tončev stated that the party "should not be in the next government because the SNS has a majority," but added that he would "respect the decision of his party on the issue."

SNS Vice-President Nebojša Stefanović promptly reacted to Tončev's statement by saying that he would suggest to SNS leader Aleksandar Vučić to form a government without the Socialists.

Dačić's statement sent to Politika stresses that the SPS Presidency supported his view that they should continue to work with the Progressives, and added that "anyone who thinks differently from the party organs will have to stand as his opponent during the (SPS) congress, or there will be no place for them in the leadership."