Vučić presents his cabinet's program to parliament

Vučić presents his cabinet's program to parliament

BELGRADE -- Serbia’s Prime Minister-designate Aleksandar Vučić said on Sunday that he was taking "full responsibility for the bold reform policy of the new government."

It's goal is economic recovery and modernization of Serbia, he told MPs.

“I am taking full responsibility for all decisions of the future government, and I will be the first to bear the consequences,” Vučić said at the end of his speech to the Serbian parliament on the new government’s goals and directions.

He announced that the government will form a project implementation unit that will oversee implementation of government decisions and laws put in place.

“The unit will report to the finance minister and me as prime minister,” Vučić said, stressing that it is crucial that laws that are enacted are also implemented.

He said that out of 19 members of the new government, only seven are from the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), of which he is the leader, stating that it “shows a different approach and outlook on Serbia’s future.”

Addressing the members of the next government, Vučić said that the ministries will no longer be political fiefdoms, nor will the ministers be able to make them “their own kingdom” where nobody is held responsible for anything as it used to be.

He said that the ministers’ accomplishments will be analyzed every six months and that those with poor job performance will be replaced.

Vučić told the members of the new government that they will be “under enormous pressure” and that they will not be able to succeed in the mission that lies before them unless they harmonize their views and work...